State Blight Policy
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania has partnered with the PA State Legislature to make blight a priority for state policy for many years. As a result, many state bills have passed into law that either increase funding for blight prevention and remediation and / or provide communities with new tools and authorities to combat blight at the local level.
For the most updated information on current blight policy efforts, visit our policy and advocacy page.
PA Land Bank Network
The PA Land Bank Network will help Pennsylvania land banks increase their knowledge, resources, and regulatory abilities to turn blighted properties into bright community spaces at greater scale. The PA Land Bank Network supports the existing land banks in the Commonwealth through peer learning, regular communications, sharing best practices, and addressing common challenges.
History of Land Banks in Pennsylvania
In October 2012, Pennsylvania passed Act 153 allowing communities to create land banks to tackle blight and vacant properties. Communities throughout Pennsylvania have been exploring new and innovative ways to create and operate their land banks. As of June 2020, there are 25 land banks actively operating in Pennsylvania. To help the existing land banks and other communities exploring the creation of a landbank, review the Pennsylvania Land Bank Resource Guide.
Join the PA Land Bank Network
To participate, you must have an official role with a land bank in existence in Pennsylvania. Your land bank or organization must also be an organizational member of the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania.
To express interest in joining the PA Land Bank Network, please email Jen Thomas at jennifer@housingalliancepa.org
Resources and Publications
The PA Blight Library is a collection of resources for tackling blight and land banks. It also includes the digital version of “Blight to Bright”, a manual of effective tools available to return vacant properties to productive use.
Blight Technical Assistance
Comprehensive Strategic Blight Plans
We can help your community and its residents create a Comprehensive Strategic Blight plan. We can provide a trained facilitator for 3-6 months to guide your community through the development of a community-driven blight action plan. We have developed as a resource to guide this process the publications We Can Do This: A Five-Step, Fast-Track Blight Plan and From Blight to Bright. Contact us at info@housingalliancepa.org if you are interested in finding out more.
Land Recycling and Land Banks
What community leaders get: Reviewing the Pennsylvania Land Bank Resource Guide and tailored technical assistance on the feasibility of creating a local land bank or other local land recycling program. Depending on the feasibility for a land recycling program and where a community is in the process of creating one, technical assistance may include: a needs assessment; outreach and engagement of elected and appointed officials, presentations to key constituencies/general public; preparation of supporting documents including a business plan, ordinance authorizing a land bank/other land use recycling program, and any necessary Intergovernmental cooperation agreements; or startup support.
Code Enforcement – Best Practices
The Housing Alliance works with communities, beginning with From Blight to Bright and provides tailored technical assistance and training on best practices in code enforcement including legal aspects of code enforcement systems; what you can and cannot do today under state law; financial aspects of code enforcement; how-to – benefits and requirements of an effective code enforcement data system; succeeding in Magistrate’s Court; and data, data, data.