July 2025 | Message from our Executive Director
Our Rural Pennsylvania Housing Summit Brings Together Practitioners from Across the Commonwealth Every geography creates realities that lead to successes and challenges. The Housing Alliance began hosting our Rural Housing Summit in 2023 to recognize the unique challenges of rural Pennsylvania. What works in urban and suburban geographies doesn’t always work the same way in rural Pennsylvania – solutions have to be tailored to the geography, economy, and fabric of rural life. This year’s Rural PA Housing Summit was more than a once and done learning event—it was a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passion, purpose, and people come together. I invite you to view our photo gallery which showcases some highlights from the day. The Summit sparked big ideas, meaningful conversations, and renewed connection with stakeholders who provide rural housing solutions across Pennsylvania. The response? Overwhelmingly positive. An example of helpful takeaways and information came from a session that offered strategies to address the contractor shortage. Crawford County had no housing programs before the Whole Home Repair program which provided resources to improve the housing stock of the County. Caleb Thayer with Crawford County Planning talked about how much he learned talking to others across the state to get the program up and running. As a former contractor himself, Caleb talks about being contractor friendly. This includes retainer contracts to guarantee a minimum of six repair projects to a contractor. How do you get contractors to help you by helping them? In partnership, Phyllis Chamberlain Executive Director |