A new plan to fight a growing housing shortage in Pennsylvania is welcome news to those who see the consequences in the Lehigh Valley on a daily basis.<\/p>\n
With a growing population, the Valley has a dearth of more than 9,000 units, according to the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission; that could grow to more than 50,000 by 2050<\/a>.<\/p>\n This month, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced<\/a> his Housing Action Plan, which presents a map to address a projected shortage of 185,000 homes<\/a> across the state by 2035 and aims to lower costs for both renters and homeowners.<\/p>\n John Marc Rittle, executive director of Bethlehem-based New Bethany Inc., which provides support for people experiencing poverty, hunger and homelessness, said his organization and other Lehigh Valley housing providers were consulted when the plan was put together.<\/p>\n \u201cThe state leaned on Lehigh Valley expertise in the shaping of this plan, citing our ability to collaborate and connect resources to those in need,\u201d Rittle said. \u201cI applaud Gov. Shapiro for taking this issue seriously, as we feel the need acutely in the Valley. I am looking forward to paving the way for more of our neighbors in need with all of the good organizations locally, working on these important issues.\u201d<\/p>\n For nonprofit organizations, Realtors and others dealing with the shortfall locally, getting simple acknowledgement of the problem could go a long way toward solving it.<\/p>\n Rittle said he sees the hurdles people face every day in trying to obtain affordable housing.<\/p>\n \u201cGov. Shapiro\u2019s Housing Action Plan acknowledges what we see every day in the Lehigh Valley: The housing shortage is real, urgent and growing,\u201d Rittle told The Morning Call. \u201cWe are facing a gap of roughly 10,000 affordable units locally, and without meaningful investment in actual housing development, that gap will only widen.<\/p>\n \u201cAs members of our [Legislature] review the state budget, this is an opportunity to prioritize housing not just as a social issue, but as a smart economic investment that strengthens communities across Pennsylvania.\u201d<\/p>\n Mark Kibbe, Legislative Committee chair for the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, said the organization is \u201cheartened by the Governor\u2019s move in the sense of keeping this issue at the forefront of everybody\u2019s mind. This is not a brand new problem.\u201d<\/p>\n For suburban townships in the Lehigh Valley, the plan could be a tool to help newcomers find places.\n<\/p>\n \u201cThe Governor\u2019s Housing Action Plan outlines several ambitious goals to address the root causes of the housing issue, such as providing first-time homebuyer support and repairing aging housing stock,\u201d said Craig Beavers, director of planning in Palmer Township, where the population is expected to grow to 30,000 people.<\/p>\n \u201cWhile it remains unknown what reforms to local zoning and development regulations will look like, it is clear that local governments such as Palmer Township will need to promote community-based planning to meet our future housing needs.\u201d<\/p>\n What\u2019s in the plan?<\/p>\n The Housing Action Plan is built on five goals that address supply and demand, regulatory reform, strengthening protections for renters and homeowners, improving state coordination and stabilizing vulnerable populations.<\/p>\n It includes a $1 billion critical infrastructure fund that will be raised through bond sales. This money would be used to offset site development costs, convert vacant office spaces into residential units, and fund mixed-use developments.<\/p>\n Otherwise, while recommending increased funding, the plan does not specify dollar amounts, instead calling on negotiations between the governor\u2019s office and state legislators. It also urges local governments to allow more housing and housing types and to work with builders in removing barriers to housing construction.<\/p>\n The section on vulnerable populations includes better coordination with human services agencies to prevent homelessness and expanding support for home repair programs to preserve housing stock.<\/p>\n A more in-depth plan to address homelessness should be ready in 2027, New Bethany\u2019s Rittle said.<\/p>\n He said he\u2019s most excited about the importance of connecting housing search and case management resources to those who rely on Medicaid.<\/p>\n \u201cHealth services are an important part of a person\u2019s journey from homelessness to housing, and it\u2019s encouraging to see a plan that commits resources to this issue,\u201d Rittle said.<\/p>\n The plan says more than a million households in the state are spending more than 30% of their income on housing, something that the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development deems \u201ccost burdened.\u201d About 36% of Lehigh Valley households fall into that category, according to HUD.<\/p>\n The lack of supply also affects affordability. According to the Pennsylvania Association of Realtors, the number of homes listed for sale has dropped 40% since 2019. Kibbe said that the average age of a first-time home buyer is 40 years old.<\/p>\n \u201cI certainly bought my first home in my 20s,\u201d he said. \u201cTo see those statistics is eye-opening.\u201d<\/p>\n Cutting red tape<\/p>\n For the most part, legislative Republicans are in favor of some sort of housing reform and they are proposing their own legislation. The GOP controls the Senate, while Democrats have the House of Representatives. Both rule by narrow majorities.<\/p>\n State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, who has been a critic of programs he says contribute to the state\u2019s debt, is skeptical of the plan.<\/p>\n \u201cGovernor Shapiro\u2019s housing plan relies on adding another $1 billion in state debt, which I cannot support,\u201d Coleman, R-Lehigh, told The Morning Call. \u201cThere is a better path forward.\u201d<\/p>\n Coleman is circulating a sponsorship memo for a bill<\/a> \u201cto eliminate red tape\u201d in redevelopment projects in nonresidential areas without sacrificing safety or quality.<\/p>\n \u201cIncreasing housing supply should not come at the expense of fiscal responsibility,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n Coleman\u2019s bill would give automatic approval for developments that have secured water and sewer service in a nonresidential zone. It includes \u201cflexibility\u201d for multifamily, mixed-use and adaptive reuse projects by eliminating requirements such as excessive setbacks or lot size, height restrictions that prevent adding affordable units, mandatory fences and one-size-fits-all parking mandates.<\/p>\n \u201cBy cutting through unnecessary regulations, we can lower construction costs, accelerate development timelines, and expand housing supply \u2014 especially in areas where demand is highest,\u201d the memo said.<\/p>\n