West Central PA News

Mar 13, 2024

A group of House members in Pennsylvania has introduced a comprehensive package of 12 bills aimed at addressing the state's housing shortage and improving housing attainability. The bills focus on affordability, tax breaks, grants, and incentives for both homeowners and builders, as well as updating building codes and regulations.

According to the bill sponsors, the lack of housing supply and increasing costs have made it challenging for Pennsylvanians to find suitable housing. The median new home sale price in Pennsylvania last year was $560,152, significantly higher than the national average. Rent increases have also made it difficult for renters to afford housing, with most counties having less than 30% of renters paying below the recommended 30% of their income on housing.

The bill sponsors emphasized the importance of addressing the housing issue, stating, "Government regulation has clearly contributed to the slowing of housing creation, fueling an ever-worsening shortage." They added, "The time has come to address this growing problem. We need to get government out of the way so housing needs may be met. Our economy, our families, and our communities depend on it."

The package of bills includes various measures such as requiring yearly reports on housing needs from municipalities, creating programs to support housing creativity, providing tax exemptions and savings accounts for first-time homebuyers, and offering low-interest loans for housing developers.

Co-sponsorship memos are currently being circulated to gather support for the bills before they are assigned to House committees for consideration.

The initiative aims to make housing more attainable for individuals in Pennsylvania, supporting stable families, promoting employment, and strengthening local economies. It also seeks to address the current housing shortage and high costs that are hindering many residents from finding suitable housing options.