Mark Schwartz led Regional Housing Legal Services (RHLS) as its Executive Director for nearly forty years – most of the organization’s existence. He currently serves as Of Counsel at RHLS, continuing to provide support to the organization. Throughout his career, Mark’s amazing vision and leadership were critical to helping RHLS create affordable housing in Pennsylvania and he remains active in advocacy for affordable housing. During his tenure at RHLS, Mark built an incredibly strong and well-staffed organization that continues to serve a vital role in Pennsylvania.
Mark joined the staff of RHLS as a staff attorney in 1974, only a year after the organization was formed. Since then, RHLS has helped thousands of Pennsylvanians find and keep a place to call home and has assisted in the revitalization of many communities across the Commonwealth.
Under Mark’s leadership, RHLS grew from a staff of three attorneys based only in Bucks County to a staff of twenty-three, with offices in the Philadelphia area, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh. RHLS attorneys have represented nonprofit clients developing and maintaining affordable housing resulting in the creation or preservation of 9,145 units of affordable rental housing or homeownership units and over $1.4 billion in financing, while building out policy advocacy for affordable housing and access to utilities.
Mark was heavily involved with the creation and implementation of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit in Pennsylvania, which is currently the central source of financing for new affordable housing. Mark has worked with the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and many partners to optimize the Credit to serve the lowest income and most vulnerable.
Mark’s work has also been instrumental in the establishment of resources for organizations serving low-income and vulnerable Pennsylvanians, advocating for programs such as the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP), which has leveraged tax credit contributions to support charitable organizations across Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE), which has provided almost $90 million in funding for housing and related programs. He also brought the Pennsylvania Utility Law Project (PULP) to RHLS, seeing the potential synergies between housing and utility advocacy.Most recently, Mark advocated for $175 million of rental and mortgage assistance for those affected by COVID-19, as well as funding for legal services agencies to provide civil legal representation and advocacy for those who need it most.
Perhaps most impactful but least calculable of Mark’s contributions includes his work connecting the affordable housing and legal aid sectors in Pennsylvania. Mark has been a connector of change-makers and his ability to do so has made a difference in the lives of many. Mark was instrumental in the creation of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania as well as the Pennsylvania Health Law Project and has served on the boards of many organizations serving low-income Pennsylvanians.
Mark was one of the founders and longtime President of the Junior Jewish Basketball League in the Philadelphia area, as well as one of the founders of the Delaware Valley Synagogue League (softball), and the Eric Zucker Memorial Scholarship Fund. Mark was a Vice-President of East Abington Little League and is an active member of Congregation Adath Jeshurun in Elkins Park.
Mark graduated from Temple University and Villanova University Law School. In 2002, he was the recipient of the Andrew Hamilton Award for exemplary service in the public interest, from the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Public Interest Section. In 2004 he was the recipient of the Good Deed Award from the Philadelphia Bar Association’s Real Property Section. In 2008, Mark was the recipient of the Donald W. Dowd Alumni Association Award for Public Service from Villanova Law School. In 2013 Mark was given Community Legal Service’s Equal Justice Award.
Mark and his wife, Bernice, a pre-school professional, reside in Abington Township. They have two sons, Jon and Andy, and three granddaughters Lily, Josie and Jackson.