Harrisburg, PA (February 5) — Pennsylvania Stands Up commends Governor Josh Shapiro for his commitment to addressing the housing crisis in his 2025 budget proposal. The budget outlines critical investments, including a $50 million fund for home repairs, a call on the legislature to seal eviction records, a $1 million investment in the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) for zoning code enforcement, an additional $10 million for the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund, and $10 million for first-time homebuyer funding. These measures build on the successes of last year’s budget, reflecting a continued dedication to housing solutions.
The shortage of housing stock in Pennsylvania has led to rising costs for working families. 51% of rural county homes and 73% of urban homes are over 50 years old, with nearly half of homes built before 1960 in areas prone to flooding. Advocates for Whole-Home Repairs believe conserving existing housing stock is essential to addressing the housing crisis, especially as the northeastern region of the United States witnesses an intensification of extreme weather events. The governor’s inclusion of money for home repairs in the budget shows his commitment to ensuring Pennsylvanians have access to the resources they need to stay in their homes and make major and minor repairs to withstand extreme weather while also bringing down utility bills for working families. However, the need for Whole-Home Repairs far exceeds the $50 million dollars proposed.
“The demand for this program far exceeds what’s currently available,” said Carrie Santoro, Executive Director of Pennsylvania Stands Up. “Counties across the Commonwealth have repaired more than 2,000 houses using Whole-Home Repairs dollars. Thousands of people were able to stay in their homes, bring down utility bills, and make their homes safer thanks to this program – but so many families are still waiting.”
While counties report over 18,000 people on Whole-Home Repairs program waitlists, advocates for Whole-Home Repairs suspect the number is even higher because many counties closed their lists due to uncertainty about additional funding.
“We’re in the midst of a national housing crisis and need to deploy every available tool to combat it,” added Maria Andrews, Director of Power Building at Pennsylvania Stands Up. “Whole-Home Repairs is the most popular housing program in recent history. When working people across Pennsylvania learn about it, they immediately recognize what it would do for their homes and communities. Legislators need to work across the aisle and do everything they can to meet the demand for this program.”
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ABOUT PENNSYLVANIA STANDS UP
Pennsylvania Stands Up (PASU) is a statewide grassroots organization of dues-paying members who organize for power across race, place, and generation. Through collective action, PASU brings everyday people into the political process, building a Pennsylvania that works for all.