Speaking in Philadelphia on Thursday, Governor Josh Shapiro announced Pennsylvania’s first-ever comprehensive housing action plan to address critical housing needs across the Commonwealth, outlining the current state of housing, providing projections of housing needs, and offering nearly three dozen strategic initiatives to ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to unthreatening, stable, and affordable housing.
Its goal is to position the Commonwealth as a national leader in housing access and affordability by 2035.
“For too many Pennsylvania families, housing prices are rising faster than their paychecks and the American dream of homeownership no longer seems possible, but it doesn’t have to be that way,” Shapiro said. “This plan directly addresses Pennsylvania’s housing needs — building more homes, cutting red tape, protecting renters and homeowners, and ensuring that our Commonwealth remains a place where people can put down roots, live with the dignity they deserve, and build a future of real opportunity.”
Over 75% of U.S. homes on market According to Bankrate, these are out of reach for the typical household analysis. in Pittsburgh, 54.6% of homes priced at $275,000 or less are affordable for households with an average income of $73,000 per year. Across the state of Philadelphia, just 29.8 percent of homes costing $293,000 or less are affordable to people with an average income of $88,000.
Access to unthreatening, stable and affordable housing helps families thrive, attract novel residents, grow the economy and workforce, and ensures stability in our communities.
Across the Commonwealth, housing costs are rising at a rate faster than wages, over one million Pennsylvania households spend over 30 percent of their income on housing, and over 50 percent of the Commonwealth’s housing stock is over 50 years elderly, making it increasingly pricey to maintain.
According to current projections, if no further action is taken, Pennsylvania will be miniature of approximately 185,000 homes by 2035.
“To support economic growth, we must provide an abundance of housing options that meet the needs of our residents and workers. Pennsylvania has the opportunity to lead the nation in housing availability and affordability,” he said Secretary for Community and Economic Development (DCED) Rick says. “With this plan – and with the commitment of residents, local governments, developers, workers and advocates – we can chart a bold new course. Together we can provide every Pennsylvanian not only with a roof over their heads, but also with the stability, security and dignity of a true home.”
“Too often, when a person does not have permanent housing, they must either rely on emergency rooms and hospitals to provide care or go without care altogether. Both options come at enormous costs, both to Medicaid and the health care system providing more intensive care, and the short- and long-term health effects of lack of earlier treatment and treatment,” she said. Human Services Secretary Dr. Val Arkoosh. “Investing in unthreatening and stable housing is not only the right thing to do for our fellow Pennsylvanians, but it has real benefits for the Commonwealth.
Governor Housing action plan defines five main goals:
- Building and protecting Pennsylvania’s housing stock. Pennsylvania needs more homes for today and tomorrow, but we also need to protect those that have long anchored our neighborhoods. By building novel homes at a pace that matches our economy and protecting the homes we already have, we can ensure residents have unthreatening, stable and affordable housing for future generations.
- Expand housing opportunities for all Pennsylvanians. A dignified, unthreatening home should never be out of reach. By breaking down barriers, expanding home ownership opportunities and strengthening protections for renters, we can build a Commonwealth where every resident is assured of a unthreatening, stable and affordable home.
- Provide pathways to housing stabilization and sustainability. A robust system supports those residents who are most vulnerable. By ensuring Pennsylvanians have access to resources to prevent displacement and support households in times of crisis, we can reduce housing insecurity, providing our residents with the stability they need to thrive and our communities with the resilience they need to thrive.
- Modernize Pennsylvania’s housing development ordinance. Outdated regulations and unnecessary delays raise costs and sluggish progress. By modernizing regulations, cutting red tape and streamlining development, we can make it easier and cheaper to build homes across the EU, encouraging investment and helping to ensure that housing is developed where it is needed most.
- Improve coordination and accountability. Pennsylvania’s housing systems work best when they work together. By combining local and state efforts, sharing data, and coordinating across agencies, we can effectively deliver results and remain accountable to the residents we serve.
“The best social program is a great union job and a great apartment, and Dr. Martin Luther King said that the present urgent need is never a bad time to take the right action. This is the right decision,” he said Ryan Boyer, Chairman of the Philadelphia Construction Industry Council. “Housing is about dignity, hope and connection… We have a need and we have a solution to that need. We can solve the problems.”
“When I knock on doors in the neighborhood, what I often hear from people is this: the rent is too damn high and the cost of living is too high,” she said Rep. Tarik Khan (D-Philadelphia). “I’m grateful that the governor, his administration and the House of Representatives are listening to me because that’s what we need in Pennsylvania – common-sense reforms that make housing more affordable. We will do it.”
State of Pennsylvania Senator Jay Costa also praised the governor’s plan.
“From Philadelphia to Lancaster to Allentown to Pittsburgh, every member of the Senate Democratic Caucus is hearing from constituents that we must take action to address the housing crisis facing our community,” he said in a statement. “Senate Democrats are focused on delivering relief to working families so they can raise their children in a safe home they can afford right here in Pennsylvania. I look forward to working with my colleagues in both the House and Senate to bring these policy pieces to fruition.”
