May 2026 | Legislative Update

What’s Happening Statewide Level? (This is how you stay in the know!)

State Legislative Update

We spend a lot of time making sure that our website is updated on the status of legislation that matters so please continue to check it out to stay informed!

You’ll find information on our top priorities and legislation that we’re tracking.

Zoning Consistency Across PA Could Accelerate Housing Production

Communities across the country are revisiting local zoning policies to remain economically competitive and better respond to changing market conditions. More flexible land use policies can help communities adapt to evolving housing and economic needs.

One of the Housing Alliance’s legislative priorities is advancing a set of reforms to modernize zoning policies across Pennsylvania. Our goal is to support clearer and more predictable development processes that can reduce costs, shorten timelines, and help accelerate housing production.

The Housing Alliance, in partnership with 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania, supports a package of legislative proposals and state legislation designed to provide communities

with practical tools and frameworks to support housing growth and economic vitality.

Find out more by visiting our webpage

To join or find out more about the PA Housing Choices Coalition, visit https://www.pahousingchoices.com/join

Moving Housing Forward: Advocacy, Solutions, and Community Impact

At the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, we’re inspired every day by the communities, advocates, and partners working together to create a Pennsylvania where everyone has a safe and stable place to call home.

This month, we’re exploring how greater zoning consistency across Pennsylvania could help accelerate housing production by reducing barriers to development and creating clearer pathways for communities to address growing housing needs. We are also spotlighting efforts to help communities create alternatives to eviction through mediation programs, legal support, rental assistance partnerships, and other proactive strategies that help keep families housed.

Housing instability continues to have a significant impact on children across Pennsylvania.  Stable housing plays a critical role in supporting children’s health, education, and overall well-being, making affordable housing solutions essential to building stronger futures for families and communities alike.

Be sure to check our upcoming calendar of trainings, webinars, and events, and consider supporting our annual Homes Within Reach Conference through sponsorship opportunities that help advance important housing conversations statewide.

Finally, nominations are now being accepted for the Frontline Leader Awards through June 26. We encourage you to recognize individuals whose leadership and dedication are making a meaningful difference in advancing housing stability and equity across Pennsylvania.

In solidarity,
Phyllis Chamberlain             
Executive Director 

Training Availability and Time to Submit Your Conference Session Ideas including on Zoning

  • The Housing Alliance is excited to now offer Housing Stability Training options delivered by our Training and Education Director Ben Cattell Noll.  Check out our offerings below.
  • Interested in doing a workshop session at our annual Homes Within Reach conference in Hershey?  Tell us your ideas by May 4 via this link.

We welcome a wide range of ideas and perspectives. I do want to encourage those that are actively working to address your local zoning challenges to submit yourself or a team as a presenter. This is even if you are still in the process of your work. It doesn’t have to be perfect for us to want to profile it! Everyone across the Commonwealth is challenged by local zoning, and we can learn from each other.

In solidarity,
Phyllis Chamberlain             
Executive Director 

What’s Happening Statewide Level?(This is how you stay in the know!)
 State Legislative Update We spend a lot of time making sure that our website is updated on the status of legislation that matters so please continue to check it out to stay informed! You’ll find information on our top priorities and legislation that we’re tracking. 
Update on Federal Homeless Assistance Funding(Learn about the top priorities included in the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act.)
Senate Passes Unified Bipartisan Housing Bill On Thursday, March 12, the U.S. Senate passed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, a unified, bipartisan housing supply package, by a vote of 89-10. If enacted, it would be the largest, bipartisan housing supply bill passed by Congress in decades. The unified package includes some top priorities that:Gives communities more flexibility to help people living unsheltered and help more veterans experiencing homelessness get housing.Speeds up inspections so people with housing vouchers can move into homes more quicklyHelps preserve affordable rental and homeownership opportunities for low-income people and families living in rural areasStrengthens LIHTC and numerous federal housing funding programs used with LIHTC.Creates a Federal Whole Home Repair pilot modeled after the Pennsylvania program to stabilize aging housing stock.What happens next? The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act now heads back to the House for final consideration. The House can either vote on the Senate-passed version without any changes or send the bill to a conference committee for additional changes. Based on recent reports, it is very likely the House will want to make additional changes. As the House and Senate work to resolve their differences through a conference committee, we all need to be reaching out to our Senators and Representatives to ensure a final housing package includes these key priorities!
 

Here’s what I want you to know this month:
 
400 people joined our virtual information session on the Governor’s Housing Action Plan.
 
400 people joined our information session on March 24 to hear updates and implementation information on the Governor’s Housing Action Plan. Thank you to Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Community & Economic Development; Stephanie Meyer, Special Assistant to the Secretary, Department of Human Services; Bryce Maretzki, Director of Strategic Planning and Policy, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency; and Melissa Wright, Executive Policy Director, Department of Community & Economic Development, for their time presenting the elements of the plan and answering the many questions. Lots and lots of people are eager to be part of the plan to make housing affordability a greater priority in our Commonwealth.
 
We kicked off our advocacy agenda with calls to action.
 
Representative Smith-Wade-El joined us on February 12 to talk about legislation to seal evictions and legislation to help people living unsheltered. Here’s the link to sign on to support eviction sealing and sign on here to support the humane encampment resolution strategy.
 
Senator Coleman joined us on February 19 to share his plan to introduce legislation to make multi-family housing in commercial areas a right to create greater housing opportunities closer to jobs. Here is the link to the co-sponsorship memo.
 
Senators Argall and Saval joined us on February 25 to share progress towards creating and funding statewide home repair programs. 
 
Our upcoming advocacy days includes meeting with target legislators in district to build support for passage of these state bills. 
 
We are accepting workshop submissions for the annual Homes Within Reach conference. Submit your proposal here.
 
Remember that this year’s dates are slightly later than usual. Save the date now for December 14-16, 2026.
 
Also related to the annual Homes Within Reach conference, we have a couple ideas on how to shake it up this year. Stay tuned for more information on potential new content as well as volunteer opportunities to create greater networking opportunities.
 
 
In solidarity,
Phyllis Chamberlain             
Executive Director               

State Legislative Update

While sub-zero temperatures have been hitting much of the state, things in Harrisburg have been heating up when it comes to housing!

Big News: The Highly Anticipated Housing Action Plan is Here!

A roadmap for addressing housing affordability and making a home within reach for all Pennsylvanians, this plan shows a real understanding that housing is foundational to strong communities, economic growth, and opportunity across the state.

ICYMI: We are excited to announce that Pennsylvania’s highly anticipated Housing Action Plan has been released! 

On February 12th, Governor Shapiro unveiled the Housing Action Plan, an important tool for addressing the Commonwealth’s housing affordability crisis. The plan demonstrates an understanding that housing is foundational to strong communities, economic growth, and opportunity across Pennsylvania. 

We thank the Governor for making housing a statewide priority and for responding to the growing challenges facing renters and homeowners alike.

We also want to thank the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and everyone across the Commonwealth that contributed to this effort.

We look forward to working with the administration and lawmakers to turn this roadmap into action!

Background

In January 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order directing the development of a comprehensive Housing Action Plan for Pennsylvania. The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) led an extensive statewide engagement process, holding listening sessions in every region of the state, meeting with stakeholders, and gathering public input through surveys. Perspectives from renters, homeowners, developers, advocates, and community leaders from both large and small communities helped shape the final plan. 

The Housing Action Plan outlines strategic initiatives and policy recommendations to guide the Commonwealth’s work over the next five years, addressing housing shortages and improving affordability for communities across Pennsylvania.

Read the Full Housing Action Plan Here

We thank the Governor for making housing a statewide priority and for responding to the growing challenges facing renters and homeowners alike.

We also want to thank the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and everyone across the Commonwealth that contributed to this effort.

Keep an eye on your inbox! We’ll be announcing the date soon for a jointly hosted information session on Pennsylvania’s Housing Action Plan. This webinar will provide an overview of the plan and what it means for communities across the Commonwealth.

This session is co-hosted by a strong coalition of partners:
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
CSH
Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania
NeighborWorks Association of Pennsylvania
Regional Housing Legal Services
Pennsylvania Association of Housing and Redevelopment Authorities
Pennsylvania Developers Council
Pennsylvania Habitat for Humanity Affiliate Coalition

Stay tuned for the official date and registration details!

Welcome Ben!
This month we welcome a new team member – Ben Cattell Noll.  As our new Training and Education Director, Ben will lead our statewide training and technical assistance efforts by assessing needs, developing strategy, and designing and delivering learning opportunities. He will partner with other Housing Alliance staff along with our external nonprofit, housing provider, and government stakeholders to identify emerging trends and opportunities to strengthen the sector. Speaking on his behalf, I know he looks forward to partnering with you to make a home within reach available to all. 
 
Everyone is Talking about Housing Affordability
This isn’t new news but it is a timely reminder. I was struck by it again when I had the opportunity to testify before the Senate Majority Policy Committee at its Public Hearing on Housing Attainability.
 
The theme of the testimony was best captured by two memorable statements: “Housing is essential to growth, not adjacent to it,” and “Housing is inseparable from economic competitiveness.”
 
I want to thank Senator Dave Argall, Chair of the Senate Majority Policy Committee and a longtime friend of the Housing Alliance, along with Senator Pat Stefano for hosting the hearing in his community. 
 
The hard work, of course, lies in reaching agreement on the policy solutions needed to move forward. But recognizing the scope of the problem – and its impact on industries and communities alike – is an important place to begin.
 
In solidarity,
Phyllis Chamberlain             
Executive Director               

We are excited to announce that Pennsylvania’s highly anticipated Housing Action Plan has been released! 

Today, February 12th, Governor Shapiro unveiled the Housing Action Plan, an important tool for addressing the Commonwealth’s housing affordability crisis. The plan demonstrates an understanding that housing is foundational to strong communities, economic growth, and opportunity across Pennsylvania. We thank the Governor for making housing a statewide priority and for responding to the growing challenges facing renters and homeowners alike. We also want to thank the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), the Department of Human Services (DHS), the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) and everyone across the Commonwealth that contributed to this effort. We look forward to working with the administration and lawmakers to turn this roadmap into action!

Read the full Housing Action Plan here!
Background

In January 2024, Governor Josh Shapiro issued an executive order directing the development of a comprehensive Housing Action Plan for Pennsylvania. The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) led an extensive statewide engagement process, holding listening sessions in every region of the state, meeting with stakeholders, and gathering public input through surveys. Perspectives from renters, homeowners, developers, advocates, and community leaders from both large and small communities helped shape the final plan. The Housing Action Plan outlines strategic initiatives and policy recommendations to guide the Commonwealth’s work over the next five years, addressing housing shortages and improving affordability for communities across Pennsylvania.


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