Housing Needs Assessment and Market Strategy
North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission
Economic Strategy
The North Central Pennsylvania Regional Planning and Development Commission (“North Central”) is the designated Local Development District (LDD) for six Pennsylvania counties: Cameron, Clearfield, Elk, Jefferson, McKean, and Potter. It is responsible for economic and community development initiatives to enhance the quality of life within these counties.
North Central recognized the need to understand current and future housing conditions, as well as unmet needs, to effectively manage growth and development and improve regional quality of life. In response, Fourth Economy developed the Regional Housing Needs Assessment and Market Study. This study documented existing housing conditions, identified market and other forces affecting housing supply and demand (present and future), pinpointed gaps in equitable access to safe and reliable housing, and suggested opportunities to expand housing options to meet regional needs.
Our Approach
To guide the planning process, North Central convened a Steering Committee of regional housing experts, planners, and economic development practitioners. This committee helped identify stakeholders to engage, brainstorm, and refine strategies. Two strategy development sessions were held to confirm housing needs, learn about local solutions, and explore how regional partners could collaborate on targeted strategies. Over 40 stakeholders from across the region participated in these sessions, directly informing the report’s recommendations.
The Results
This study provides local governments, communities, developers, and the public with a shared understanding of the housing market, key issues, and current and future needs. The intention is for the study to serve as a platform for future collaborative housing strategy development by regional stakeholders to address both regional and local housing needs. North Central hosted a meeting of the PA Partnerships for Regional Economic Performance (PREP) members in October 2022 to share the study’s results and encourage regional collaboration on these issues.
Location
North Central Pennsylvania