Issue Brief

Affordable Housing

Background

The lack of quality, affordable housing options available to working people, single parents, seniors, people with disabilities and families is a statewide concern. Waiting lists of qualified applicants for existing programs continue to grow past feasible capacity and many are now closed. More than 15,000 Pennsylvanians are homeless, but those are just the people who have been counted. Every provider and developer is seeing greater demand for homes than they can possibly meet, yet dollars are shrinking. Even Pennsylvania’s Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is finding itself faced with 4-5 times the demand than it can finance. 

Realizing that many of the PHFA’s presented proposals to address this housing crisis is due to lack of resources, Senator John Pippy is preparing to introduce legislation to enact the “Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act” (PHARE).  This program would enable PHFA to develop programs to build, rehabilitate and preserve homes for low to moderate income families and individuals, people with disabilities and the elderly.  If passed, Pennsylvania would join nearly 40 other states that have created successful housing trust funds to support affordable housing development.

Many homeowners and renters in Pennsylvania are paying more than 30% of their income towards monthly housing costs.  These families are often forced to do without health care, car insurance, nutritious food and other family essentials. Providing safe, decent, affordable housing is fundamental to the well-being of individuals, families, and communities.

ELCA Policy Base  (Sufficient, Sustainable Livelihood for All, 1999; A Message on Homelessness: 

            A Renewal of Commitment, 1990)

“Housing is a fundamental human right.  The United States government has stated its commitment to the goal that all citizens have decent housing and a suitable living environment (Federal Housing Act of 1949)…. The reasons for homelessness and houselessness are complex and the gospel does not provide ready-made solutions to the problem.” 

“God’s love in Jesus Christ does, however, move us to care for [people with housing needs] as God cares for all...  While as Christians we may differ in our views on what policies will be most effective, we ought not overlook the need for new and sustained initiatives by governments… and effective political and economic policies [that] assure housing, employment, literacy, and health services for low-income families [that] can help people who are potentially homeless.”