Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Mission First?

Mission First 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 are we developing it?

People who work in our community should be able to live in our community. The average rent in this area is unaffordable to many lower wage workers. Workforce housing has a lower rent that working families can afford, enabling them to have more resources to meet other needs like food, clothing, and transportation.

When did Royersford Baptist Church begin working with Mission First?

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.

How much will the rent be?

We expect rent at Cypress Place at Royersford to average $1,000 for a one bedroom, $1,200 for a two bedroom, and $1,370 for a three bedroom. To compare, as of April 2024 the median rent for an apartment in Upper Providence is $2,016 per month (niche.com). Rents at nearby apartments listed on apartments.com range averaged $1,450 for a one bedroom, $1,750 for a two bedroom, and $2,100 for a three bedroom. Tenants will have to earn enough income to pay these rents.

There is a lot of traffic in this area. The intersection of South Lewis Road and Vaugn Road is difficult to navigate, especially at the beginning and end of the school day. Will a traffic light or roundabout be added?

It is our understanding that the Township is considering ways to improve this intersection.



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.



What happens if a resident moves in and their income subsequently goes up and exceeds the maximum income limit?

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.



Who is expected to live at Cypress Place?

The target market for Cypress Place at Royersford is people who live in the area and are 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. This development is proposed in response to a need for housing that is less expensive that the average apartment in the area.

Has this project been approved already?

No. We have submitted a preliminary concept plan to the Upper Providence Township Planning Commission seeking input and comment. We anticipate that meeting will occur in May or June 2024. The public review process will include opportunities for participation and comment, online and in-person. We look forward to working with area stakeholders over the coming months.

How does workforce housing benefit a community?

Workforce housing can help employers attract and retain employees, enabling local businesses to thrive. This can improve the quality and availability of local services. It can enable young people to stay in or return to the area where they grew up, and reduces traffic and congestion by enabling workers to live closer to their jobs.

Are workforce housing and affordable housing the same thing?

Workforce housing is one type of affordable housing. The term workforce housing is sometimes used to describe a development that does not have rental subsidy—such as Section 8—that would enable residents with extremely low incomes to live there. At a development that has rental subsidies, tenants pay 30% of their income toward rent and utilities and the rental subsidy pays the rest of the rent. Cypress Place will not have rental subsidies, so tenants will have to pay all of their monthly rent from their income.

How will the rents be set?

Rents are set to be affordable to households that meet certain income limits.

How much will a household have to earn to afford an apartment at Cypress Place?

A household would need annual income of around $36,000 to afford the average rent of $1200 per month for a two bedroom apartment at Cypress Place. A household income of $30,000 would be needed to afford the average rent for a one bedroom apartment. For comparison purposes, an annual income of around $52,500 is necessary to afford a typical two bedroom apartment in the area.

How will tenants at Cypress Place be chosen?



Mission First will focus on the zipcodes and neighborhoods surrounding Cypress Place as we begin to market the project. Outreach will start around 6-9 months before the groundbreaking 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.

How does the income needed to rent at Cypress Place compare to salaries for local jobs?

Below are a few sample open positions listed on Indeed.com in April 2024: with their annual wages:

• Store Manager, Pottstown: $40,000 - $43,000

• Pediatric Dental Assistant, Phoenixville: $45,800

• Production Worker: $35,360

• Warehouse Associate, Royersford: $39,500

Where will the funds to build Cypress Place come from?

Rental developments like this are funded from a combination of sources. The largest source will be equity raised from the sale of federal low income housing tax credits. This is a credit that corporations can receive against their federal taxes in exchange for their investment; most investors are banks. In addition, we will likely apply to the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency for PHARE funds; this is a “soft” loan that carries a 0% interest rate with repayment required only back if there is sufficient cash flow to do so. The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency also manages the competitive process by which developers compete for the federal tax credits referenced above. In addition, in April we applied to Montgomery County for a similar “soft” loan which would not have to be paid back as long as the development serves its intended purpose as workforce housing. Finally, there will be a first mortgage from a bank or other lender. 

Will Cypress Place pay property taxes?

Yes. While this property currently is tax exempt because it is owned by Royersford Baptist Church, the portion that would be sold to Mission First—where the project will be constructed—will pay property taxes. Because the rents at Cypress Place will be lower than they would be at a typical apartment complex, it’s possible that the amount of taxes paid will be less than at a comparable market rate development in the area.