House Majority Policy Committee continues work to address PA housing crisis
Roundtable discussion on attainable housing held in Allentown
Policy Committee April 30, 2026 | 12:30 PM
ALLENTOWN, April 30 – Between rising housing costs, a lack of housing inventory and an aging housing stock, the housing crisis is one of the most pressing challenges facing Pennsylvanians today. The House Majority Policy Committee convened a roundtable discussion in Allentown Thursday, led by Rep. Ana Tiburcio (D-Lehigh), with housing advocates and officials to discuss what can be done to help make it easier for residents to access housing.
“Pennsylvania’s housing crisis has reached a breaking point. Families are being priced out of their homes and young people are being forced to leave their communities. Building more attainable housing should be a top priority for everyone,” Tiburcio said. “When families can afford to put down roots, neighborhoods thrive, schools grow stronger, and local economies succeed. An investment in housing is an investment in the future of every Pennsylvania community.”
The median home price in Lehigh County sits at approximately $337,000, while renters are paying anywhere from $1,300 to $1,800 per month. These prices put an overwhelming burden on working families as many spend anywhere from 40-50% of their income on rent or mortgage payments. Additionally, the existing housing stock in Pennsylvania is aging and becoming increasingly difficult to maintain for homeowners.
In February, Gov. Josh Shapiro released Pennsylvania’s first-ever Housing Action Plan to build more housing, reduce costs and create pathways to ownership for every Pennsylvanian. The five-goal plan will aim to build and preserve more homes, expand housing opportunities for first-time homebuyers, provide pathways to housing sustainability, cut red tape for development regulations, and improve coordination and accountability.
“For the first time, our Commonwealth has a roadmap that assembles state agencies, local governments, builders, employers, and advocates around a shared goal: ensuring that every Pennsylvanian has access to a safe, stable, and affordable home,” said Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development. “Headlined by a $1 billion Critical Infrastructure Investment Fund, it’s investments like this that will allow us to create more opportunities for Pennsylvanians.”
Another aspect fueling the housing crisis is the state’s current housing supply is not able to keep up with demand. Prior to Thursday’s roundtable discussion, members of the House Majority Policy Committee toured Overlook Park, a property in Allentown that has been redeveloped by Pennrose Management Company into a housing community that offers low-income townhome units for rent. Renters at Overlook Park can choose from 1-bedroom up to 4-bedroom units and can utilize assistance programs to help pay rent. Members spoke with Pennrose leadership officials about how the project came to fruition and how it can be replicated elsewhere to create more housing opportunities for low-income families.
“This is not a partisan issue, it’s a Pennsylvania issue. No matter where you live, people are feeling the strain of rising housing costs. We need common-sense solutions that bring people together to expand housing options and make our communities more affordable for everyone,” said House Majority Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie). “If we fail to address the housing shortage, we risk losing talent and weakening our communities. But if we act fast, we can build a stronger Pennsylvania for future generations.”
Thursday’s roundtable discussion was held at Overlook Park in Allentown and included remarks from Michael Patterson, a Regional Property Manager at Pennrose Management Company; Kelly Yan, a Developer at Pennrose Management Company; Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the Pa. Dept. of Community and Economic Development; Trevor Tormann, Chief Planner of the City of Allentown’s Bureau of Planning & Zoning; and Terry Grier, Chief Lending Officer at First Commonwealth Credit Union.
Testimony submitted for Thursday’s roundtable discussion can be found here. Photos will be available here.