PA Habitat Leaders Call on Elected Officials to Increase Statewide Funding for Home Repair Programs

On Tuesday, May 6, representatives from 12 Pennsylvania Habitat affiliates arrived in Harrisburg to meet with their local elected officials and show their support for smart affordable housing policy.

Across the Commonwealth, the supply of homes is dwindling, and one in eight households spend more than half their income on rent or mortgage payments. For lower-income families, these costs are becoming increasingly restrictive.  

PA Habitat leaders are committed to addressing these challenges through three policy platforms that aim to repair existing housing stock and remove barriers to new, affordable construction. 

Zoning and Land Use Reform: Outdated zoning and land use policies are raising production costs and limiting housing options for lower-income buyers. By allowing higher-density development and focusing on construction near transit, we can unlock the dream of affordable homeownership for more Pennsylvania residents. 

“Costs are going up, land is scarce, and we need to be able to use it as efficiently as possible,” said Andrew Szalay, President & CEO of  Lancaster Lebanon Habitat for Humanity. “We can only do that with a coordinated effort through the General Assembly, the Governor’s Office and every community and superintendent throughout the state.” 

Affordable Homeownership Construction: While the current PA Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) program addresses a wide range of housing issues, its income targets and funding caps leave limited opportunity for new, affordable home construction. Developers that build for low-income households require dedicated resources to fund these critical projects. 

Statewide Repair Programs: Far too many Pennsylvanians face dangerous or unstable living conditions caused by leaking roofs, crumbling foundations and other structural issues. A permanently funded, statewide repair program would address these challenges before they lead to further destabilization and resident displacement. By keeping more families safe, warm and dry in the homes they love, we can collectively reduce long-term housing costs and foster healthier communities. 

“There are 18,000 lower-income homeowners in Pennsylvania waiting for critical home repairs to ensure they can maintain the affordable home that they own,” said Carrie Rathmann, VP of Strategic Partnerships at Habitat for Humanity Philadelphia. “A 50-million-dollar investment in home repairs will protect family health, preserve affordability and strengthen neighborhoods across the state.” 

In the afternoon, State Representative Lindsay Powell joined Habitat staff and homeowners in the East Wing Rotunda to underscore the value of these housing initiatives across the Commonwealth. 

“Without stable housing, everything else, no matter how well-designed, rests on a shaky foundation,” said Representative Powell. “We need programs that ready our neighbors for homeownership like educational courses, credit repair programs and free financial advisors. But we also need larger eligibility for first-time homeowner programs, closing cost assistance and more diverse housing supply for people to choose from.” 

Lakeysha Davis, a Habitat Philadelphia homeowner who moved into her new home this April, spoke about her own journey to homeownership and the valuable tools she gained along the way. 

“It’s about generational wealth,” shared Davis. “My grandmother, who is 95-years-old, was there to see me turn my key and cut my ribbon. Ten people are in my cohort and 300 people applied. We want all those 300 people to be able to get in this program.” 

Stories like Lakeysha’s are the driving force behind this coalition’s advocacy goals that seek to stabilize communities and open new doors of opportunity for generations of Pennsylvania families. 

Thirty-one Habitat for Humanity affiliates expressed their support for this year’s Harrisburg visit: Adams County, Allegheny Valley, Armstrong, Beaver County, Bedford County, Berks County, Bucks County, Greater Centre County, Chester County, Clearfield County, Cumberland Valley, Endless Mountains, Greater Erie Area, Franklin County, Greater Lycoming, Greene County, Greater Harrisburg Area, Lancaster Lebanon, Lawrence County, Lehigh Valley, Monroe County, Montgomery and Delaware Counties, Philadelphia, Pike County, Potter Count, Snyder-Union-Northumberland, Somerset County, Washington County, Central Westmoreland, Wyoming Valle, York.