Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Mission First Housing Group?
Mission First Housing Group is a nonprofit developer working throughout the Mid-Atlantic region, serving nearly 6,000 residents in over 4,000 apartments. Our mission is to create and manage affordable, equitable, safe, sustainable homes that support residents and strengthen communities. Mission First’s developments are frequently completed in partnership with community-based non-profits, religious congregations, and/or local governments. These partners, as long-term community stakeholders, provide invaluable and welcome insight into local priorities, informing each project so that everything Mission First builds becomes a lasting community.
We look forward to getting to know you throughout this community engagement process! For more information on Mission First Housing Group, please visit our website www.missionfirsthousing.org
What is workforce housing and why is it being developed here?
The premise of workforce housing is that people who work in our community should be able to live in our community. Unfortunately, the existing average rent in this area is unaffordable to many lower wage workers. Workforce housing has a lower rent that working families can attain.
How does workforce housing benefit a community?
Workforce housing can help employers attract and retain employees and those employees often spend their income in the community thereby helping local businesses thrive. With workforce housing people have shorter commutes which can reduce traffic and vehicular congestion. In many instances workforce housing allows multi-generations to stay in a community instead of leaving for lower rent neighborhoods.
Are workforce housing and affordable housing the same thing?
Workforce housing is attainable housing for those who are income eligible, but cannot afford market rate rents. Cypress Place at Royersford will not have rental subsidies (nor Section 8 vouchers); accordingly, tenants will pay all of their monthly rent from their income.
Who is expected to live at Cypress Place?
The target market for Cypress Place at Royersford is people who live in the area and may currently be struggling to pay rent, people who work nearby but are unable to live near their workplace because housing costs are too high and people who grew up in the area but have been unable to find housing that they can afford here. All households that live at Cypress Place at Royersford will have incomes at or below 60% of Area Median Income at move-in.
What happens if a resident's income increases after they move-in?
A resident’s income can rise above the maximum income limit as long as they qualified at move-in; they can stay in their home even if their income goes up.
How much will the rent at Cypress Place at Royersford cost?
We expect rent at Cypress Place at Royersford to average $1,050 for a one bedroom, $1,220 for a two bedroom, and $1,460 for a three bedroom. To compare, adjusted (for utilities) market rent in the community as of January 2025 was $1810 for a one bedroom, $2244 for two bedroom and $2675 for a three bedroom.
What happens if a resident moves in then loses their job and can’t pay the rent?
Unfortunately, sometimes there is an event such as a job loss that results in a resident not being able to pay their rent. The lease lays out residents’ obligations, and the obligations of the owner. If rent remains unpaid beyond any grace period and after notice requirements are met, the end result may be eviction.
How much will a household have to earn to afford an apartment at Cypress Place?
A household would need annual income of around $44,000 to afford the average rent of $1220 per month for a two-bedroom apartment at Cypress Place. A household income of $38,000 would be needed to afford the average rent for a one-bedroom apartment.
What types of jobs might people Cypress Place at Royersford residents have?
For example, below are a few sample open positions with their annual wages, listed on Indeed.com in March 2025 within a 10-mile radius from Cypress Place at Royersford. All of these positions could qualify for residency at Cypress Place at Royersford:
Office Manager, $40,000
Medical Assistant, $45,000
Car Dealership Associate $47,000
First Year Teacher at Spring-Ford School District - $51,000
How will tenants at Cypress Place be chosen?
Mission First will focus on the zip codes and neighborhoods surrounding Cypress Place as we begin to market the project. Outreach will occur with postcard mailers sent to households nearby and information distributed to local organizations and businesses, letting people know of the development and inviting them to come to a meeting where applications will be accepted. Those applications will be time/date stamped, forming an initial waitlist. Once construction is nearing completion, we will reach out people on the waitlist in order, to confirm their continued interest and invite them to come in and submit a full application. Once a full application is received, the information is verified and background and credit checks are performed. Applicants will have to have enough income to pay the rent but be below the maximum income limit. Once this vetting process is successfully completed, a prospective resident is offered an apartment and must sign a lease and pay their security deposit in order to secure the apartment.
Has this project been approved already?
No. We presented a preliminary concept plan to the Upper Providence Township Planning Commission and received input. We are in the process of preparing the documents necessary for the Township's zoning review. The public review process will continue to include opportunities for participation and comment, online and in-person. We look forward to working with area stakeholders over the coming months.
Where will the funds to build Cypress Place at Royersford come from?
There are several sources that will contribute to development of Cypress Place at Royersford. The largest source will be equity raised from the sale of federal housing tax credits. This is a credit that corporations are awarded against their federal taxes in exchange for their investment; most investors are banks. In February 2025, we applied for this credit and are waiting to learn of its award. In addition, in February 2025 we also applied to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for a 0% soft loan as well as a first mortgage. Also, Cypress Place at Royersford was successful in receiving a conditional soft loan award from Montgomery County to round out the project sources.
Will Cypress Place pay property taxes?
Yes.
When did Royersford Baptist Church and Mission First begin working together?
In late 2020, Royersford Baptist Church began exploring ways to alleviate the looming increasing financial stress. The most obvious answer was to sell the entire property and relocate. However, RBC didn’t like the idea of seeing another luxury commercial development move into the property. A sustainability consultant suggested that RBC consider workforce housing.
In January of 2022, RBC began working with another local non-profit developer to develop housing aimed at working families in our neighborhood. The sale/lease of the land would allow RBC financial sustainability and the ability to stay on the property, while also benefiting the hardworking families in the area through housing and adding to the tax roll. In late 2022, a vital partner of that nonprofit developer decided they would no longer work in Pennsylvania. Without that partner, the nonprofit developer decided to re-focus their attention elsewhere, bringing a halt to their work on this initiative.
Fortunately, that nonprofit developer was able to introduce RBC to a valued partner in the non-profit development world. This nonprofit developer, Mission First Housing Group, has become the developer of Cypress Place. Mission First and RBC share a common vision of safe, equitable housing that will strengthen the community. Mission First has a proven track record and 35 years of experience creating workforce and affordable housing throughout the Mid Atlantic.
