Pennsylvania Statewide Housing Action Plan
Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development
This work was commissioned via an Executive Order from Governor Shapiro to address Pennsylvania’s housing crisis. The state’s housing stock is old, new building permits have not recovered since the 2008 housing crash, and individuals and families across the socioeconomic spectrum are struggling to find and maintain attainable, accessible housing.
Fourth Economy collaborated with an interagency client team, which includes leadership from the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Department of Human Services, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and the Governor’s Policy Office.
Our Approach
Fourth Economy brought our expertise in housing analysis and stakeholder engagement to help develop Pennsylvania’s first statewide housing action plan, an initiative only a few other states have undertaken. Our approach included:
Assessing the current housing landscape and projecting future housing needs
Evaluating existing state-run housing programs, developing a database of statewide housing strategies deployed in other states
Creating a 10-year action plan with statewide targets
Formulating a set of data- and evidence-informed recommendations for the state to achieve those targets
The Results
The Housing Action Plan is the result of a year-long, inclusive process that engaged thousands of residents, local leaders, and housing advocates across all 67 counties, ensuring it reflects the diverse needs of urban, suburban, and rural PA. PA needs 450,000 new units by 2035 to meet demand. Without this plan, the state was projected to fall 185,000 units short.
The Shapiro Administration’s "all-of-the-above" approach to implementing the 10-year roadmap is backed by significant proposed investments, including a $1 billion critical infrastructure fund to jumpstart housing development. By aligning state resources with local needs, the plan positions Pennsylvania to go from the "bottom of the pack" to a national leader in housing access.
To read the full Housing Action Plan, visit the DCED website.
Location
State of Pennsylvania