What Needs to Be Done:
Six Stories of Built to Last
In the spring of 2023, six women from the Hunting Park neighborhood in Philadelphia sat down with Hunting Park NAC, Sierra Club PA, and Physicians for Social Responsibility PA to talk about their experience with the Built to Last program, through which they received free essential repairs to their homes. The Built to Last Program is administered by the Philadelphia Energy Authority and addresses a home holistically. Where many vulnerable homeowners may otherwise qualify for weatherization or other assistance programs but are disqualified because of more foundational fixes they can't afford, the Built to Last program brings together funds and contractors to facilitate these needed repairs, as well as weatherization and other energy-saving approaches like installing hyper-efficient electric appliances and adding leased solar on roofs to lower energy bills. This short documentary aims to bring attention to the widespread need for comprehensive home repair in Philadelphia.
In November of 2023, Hunting Park NAC, Sierra Club PA, and Physicians for Social Responsibility PA hosted a community event to premiere the screening of this documentary. Following the screening, there was a panel discussion and Q&A with interviewees, program administrators, and policy makers.
Speakers included Gail Pryor and Sharon Hiskell, two Hunting Park residents and BTL participants who were interviewed for the film; Emma Boorboor, Community Outreach Director for Senator Saval whose office spearheaded the creation of the statewide Whole Home Repair Program based on BTL; Osarugue Grace Osa-Edoh, HERE 4 Climate Justice steering committee member and Community Legal Services attorney; and Alon Abramson, Philadelphia Energy Authority Director of Residential Programs.
We invite you to watch the full recording of the panel and discussion below!