HARRISBURG, Pa. — The Shapiro administration is introducing a new pilot program in the Commonwealth to tackle the affordable housing crisis plaguing the nation.
Local affordable housing and homelessness advocates say while the issue isn’t going away, every little bit counts.
Patrick Ball, interim CEO of Lifepath Christian Ministries, highlighted the urgency of the situation, noting, "36 percent of our guests are here due to eviction or raised rent. The lack of affordable housing plays a significant role in these hardships."
In response, the Shapiro administration is dedicating $10 million to expand affordable housing options throughout the Commonwealth. This funding aims to transform vacant properties into multi-use housing developments, creating additional spaces for individuals and businesses.
Ryan Emerson from the Department of Community and Economic Development emphasized the importance of the program for the entire community, not just those looking for housing.
“Affordable housing is a critical component of a flourishing community. You need to have workforce housing so that people can afford to live and work where they want to,” Emerson said.
Despite the program’s big footprint, affordable housing and homelessness advocates say this is just a small step in the right direction to tackle an issue larger than life.
“If it does work, they can take the outcomes and prove that ‘Hey, this worked we should invest more,’ and then start to make a real difference in the Commonwealth,” Ball said.
Ball also pointed out that increasing the supply of affordable housing is crucial in preventing homelessness, explaining that many people are just one paycheck away from living in a homeless shelter.
“It also prevents people from being homeless in the first place because again, the more supply of affordable housing out there the better for the community overall,” Ball said.
For regions like York County, the potential benefits of this pilot program could be substantial. Ball mentioned, “We can make a pretty strong case that our particular region should be funded because we have everyone working together, we obviously have the demand.”
Details on the application process for this pilot program and its implications for local communities can be found here.