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Harrisburg, PA \u2013 April 1, 2026 \u2013 To mark the first day of Fair Housing Month, Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti (D-17, Montgomery\/Delaware) and Senator Nikil Saval (D-1, Philadelphia) introduced Senate Resolution 260,\u00a0recognizing April as \u201cFair Housing Month<\/a>\u201d in Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n \u201cNo one in our community should ever be left without a safe place to call home. Yet, on any given day in this Commonwealth, more than 12,000 Pennsylvanians we know of are unhoused,\u201d said Senator Cappelletti. \u201cLet\u2019s be clear: housing is a basic human right. But rising costs of living, stagnant wages, and discriminatory practices have put that right out of reach for far too many. In the Senate, I\u2019m fighting to change that by advancing legislation that makes fair, accessible housing a reality for every Pennsylvanian.\u201d<\/p>\n Housing affordability across the nation is at an\u00a0all-time low<\/a>, with the number of unhoused people facing an unprecedented increase<\/a>. According to the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development<\/a>, of the more than 12,000 people who go unhoused in the Commonwealth, approximately 2,500 are from the Greater Philadelphia region.<\/p>\n \u201cThe collision of the housing crisis with the affordability crisis means that many people are one commonplace emergency away from losing their homes,\u201d said Senator Saval. \u201cPennsylvania must act to meet this moment. Recognizing Fair Housing Month means recognizing housing as a basic human need. Our government must show its commitment to a Commonwealth in which all people have access to homes that are safe and healthy\u2014through legislation, through policy, and through work in our communities.\u201d<\/p>\n For those who rent their housing in both Montgomery and Delaware counties, households spending more than 30% of their income on rent and utilities rose from 2017 to 2023<\/a>. The increase in spending was noted to be the highest in Delaware County, where rent-burdened households increased by 7.1%<\/a> in seven years.<\/p>\n The average rent in the 23 Pennsylvania counties tracked by Zillow\u2019s rent estimate was $1,013 in 2017 and $1,476 in 2023, a 46% increase<\/a>. The state has also failed to keep up with the growing demand for housing, with Pennsylvania ranking 44th out of all 50 states<\/a> on the rate of housing built during that same period.<\/p>\n \u201cThis month and every month, I\u2019m committed to building a Commonwealth that meets this moment and tackles our nationwide housing crisis head-on,\u201d said Senator Cappelletti. \u201cEveryone deserves a place to safely rest their head at the end of the day, and my legislation will bring us one step closer to that becoming our reality.\u201d<\/p>\n Senator Cappelletti has introduced several bills to address housing in the Commonwealth, including: <\/p>\n Statewide Rental Rate Protections, SB 546<\/a>\u00a0(Co-sponsored by Senator Saval):\u00a0This bill would enforce rental rate protection measures to combat unfair and predatory rental increases. It exempts small landlords with less than 15 units. Newly developed housing would not be subject to rent control measures until the property reaches ten years of age after receiving a certificate of occupancy.\u00a0<\/p>\n Optional Affordable Housing Trust Funds Enhancements, SB 609<\/a>\u00a0(Co-sponsored by Senator Saval): The Optional Affordable Housing Funds Act\u2013also known as Act 137\u2013allows Pennsylvania counties to raise revenues for affordable housing needs by increasing fees charged for the recording of deeds and mortgages. This bill would address shortcomings in the act and:<\/p>\n Increase the maximum amount of fees that can be collected; Senator Cappelletti is also proud to co-prime several pieces of housing-related legislation with her colleagues:<\/p>\n
\nImpose reporting requirements, and;
\nEstablish a Local Housing Trust Fund Community of Practice.<\/p>\n