February 2024 | Legislative Update
Governor Shapiro Proposes Budget that Invests in Housing
On Tuesday, February 9th, Governor Josh Shapiro presented his 2024-25 State Budget proposal to the General Assembly which includes historic investments in housing, home repair, homeless assistance, and eviction prevention.
The proposed budget includes:
- Increasing the PHARE program funding cap to $100 million by 2027-28, with $10 million per year increases
- $50 million for the Whole Home Repairs Program
- $10 million for the Homeless Assistance Program
- $5 million for legal representation in eviction proceedings
- $5 million to local governments for rapid response to emergency housing situations
PHARE
For the first time in the history of the Pennsylvania Housing and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE) a Governor has formally proposed increasing the funding cap on the program. This is a testament to PHARE’s popularity and effectiveness in addressing a variety of housing needs across the Commonwealth. The Housing Alliance and our partners have worked directly with the Governor’s staff to ensure that PHARE would emerge as one of the Shapiro Administration’s housing priorities.
As we have previously reported, a PHARE cap increase to $100 million has been advanced in both the House and Senate this session. Over the next few months, it will be critical to keep PHARE in our conversations with legislators.
Whole Home Repair
The Governor has also asked for $50 million for the Whole Home Repairs program. Now armed with real world evidence of good work and high demand for the program, we have everything needed for meaningful conversations with legislators to ask for their support for Whole Home Repairs funding. The Housing Alliance is working with Whole Home Repairs administrators to meet with legislators concerning their local programs to build support for additional funding and minor legislative changes
Eviction Prevention
In 2024, the Housing Alliance is seeking additional funding for the Homeless Assistance Program (HAP) run by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS) and flexibility for those resources to be used for eviction diversion and prevention programs including landlord-tenant mediation, rental assistance, and legal representation.
The Governor’s proposed budget includes an additional $10 million for Homeless Assistance, $5 million for legal representation in eviction proceedings, and $5 million to local governments for rapid response to emergency housing needs.
These represent tremendous investments, and we are working to see these initiatives included in the final budget.
What’s Next
In the coming weeks, both House and Senate Appropriations Committees will hold budget hearings with most state departments and agencies to examine the proposed spending plan.
The Housing Alliance will be working with advocates and partners to gain legislative support for all the above proposed housing investments.
With Pennsylvania now the only state in the nation with a divided government, we have challenges before us; however, the short supply of housing and the plight of renters has been elevated in a way that we’ve never seen before.
We have never treated housing as a partisan issue, but rather a problem that requires everyone’s attention and expertise to properly address.
Sealing Eviction Records
Many renters who have never been evicted carry eviction filing records. While eviction filings are civil matters, they bar potential tenants from housing in the same way that criminal records can prevent former offenders from obtaining employment.
Eviction filings are permanently recorded and reported to landlords regardless of the outcome of the case. Even when a case is withdrawn, dismissed, or settled outside of court, the eviction filing is permanent with no legal remedy available to seal it.
Tenants with eviction filings are often forced to pay higher rents, settle for housing that is less safe, or they are simply automatically screened from consideration by future landlords.
In keeping with the standards set by Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate legislation which limits access to certain criminal histories, as well as credit reporting which drops bankruptcy filings after seven years, the Housing Alliance is seeking to enact a remedy to limit access to eviction filing records.
State Representative Smith-Wade-El and State Senator Nikil Saval are drafting legislation that would place an Order of Limited Access on eviction filings until a tenant loses their case in court. If the court decides for the landlord, an eviction record would remain open for several years until it is ultimately placed under a permanent Order of Limited Access, providing a second chance for tenants.
The Housing Alliance is working to engage legislators in all four caucuses to support the proposal.
On Thursday, February 15th, beginning at 1:00p.m. the Senate Democratic Policy Committee will hold a public hearing on this issue at the Wilkinsburg Municipal Building in Pittsburgh.