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Tangled Title Fund

This fund is made possible by the City of Philadelphia through its Division of Housing and Community Development.

In this Section

About the Tangled Title Fund

The Tangled Title Fund (TTF) is a grant program to help preserve affordable housing, prevent homelessness, and strengthen communities.  

TTF grants are awarded to low-income persons seeking to clear legal title to their homes. Grants help to cover administrative, legal, and other costs that may arise in resolving a homeownership issue. The primary funder of the TTF is the City of Philadelphia through its Division of Housing and Community Development (DHCD).

The TTF can help cover costs as you work on resolving your tangled title. If you believe you may have a tangled title issue, click here to learn how you can get legal help.

Apply to the TTF Need Legal Help?

Administration of the TTF

The TTF is funded by the City of Philadelphia, and its eligibility criteria are set by the Division of Housing and Community Development.

All TTF decisions are made by the independent Tangled Title Fund Advisory Committee (TTF Committee).

The TTF Committee is made up of attorneys from a range of practice settings, including large law firms, solo practices, and public interest organizations.

Philadelphia VIP (VIP) administers the TTF, including by processing applications and funding requests. The TTF and VIP are separate entities and have different eligibility criteria.

  • All disbursement requests are subject to the discretion of the TTF Committee and the availability of funds.
  • Requests generally are funded on a first-come, first-served basis.
  • Applicants are eligible for up to $4,000 in costs. Additional costs, of up to $5,000, will be considered on a case-by-case basis, primarily for applicants facing particularly high inheritance tax and transfer tax bills. Requests that exceed $2,500 may be approved by the TTF Committee, but are not given priority.
  • The TTF does not provide help with legal issues. If you need legal help with a tangled title issue, please click here.

Eligibility for TTF Grant Support

When determining if an applicant is eligible for a TTF grant, the TTF Committee considers the following factors. The eligibility requirements for TTF funding are different from the eligibility requirements for legal assistance from VIP. VIP clients are not guaranteed TTF funding, and non-VIP clients are eligible to apply for funding.

Income

Priority is given to applicants whose pre-tax household income does not exceed 80% of the area median income (AMI). Fore example, a family of four at 80% makes $84,300. Documentation of household income must be provided.

Assets

The applicant may not have more than $10,000 in assets (cash, certificates of deposit, etc.). In calculating assets, the value of the home to which the applicant wants title is not counted.

Residence

The property with the tangled title problem must be the applicant’s primary residence, or the applicant must intend to make the property the applicant’s primary residence after clearing title to it.

Property Condition

The house must not be in a dangerous condition.

Case Merit

The goal of the case must be to make the applicant the record owner of the property at issue, and there must be a reasonable expectation that this goal can be reached.

Ability to Pay Extra Costs

The applicant must be able to pay – or secure other grants to pay – any amounts needed to resolve the case in excess of the maximum TTF grant.

The TTF Review Process

The TTF Committee is the final decision-maker on all TTF funding requests. The TTF Committee considers the following factors when it reviews applications and disbursement requests:

  • Compliance with eligibility requirements
  • Completeness of application
  • Necessity of the costs for which funding is sought
  • Availability of TTF funds
  • Likelihood that the title issue will be resolved
  • Applicant’s ability to retain and maintain the home, including consideration of the applicant’s household income, outstanding debts and liens, and the condition of property
The TTF Committee has discretion to approve or decline any particular application or funding request based on these factors.

 

Administrator Contact Information

 

Name: Leila Bagenstos
Email (preferred): tangledtitlefund@gmail.com
Phone:(215) 523-9553
Fax: (215) 564-0845
Mail: Leila Bagenstos
1500 JFK Blvd, Suite 1850
Philadelphia, PA, 19102

Tangled Title Fund

Apply to the TTF

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