About: What We Do

Mission | What We Do | Past Highlights | 2006 Legislative Wrap-Up | Accomplishments 2005 | Accomplishments 2004 | Accomplishments 2003

A healthy housing market provides choices. Choices across the economic spectrum, from market-rate homes for sale, to low-cost rentals. Choices for working families and seniors on fixed incomes. Choices for recent college graduates, first-time homebuyers, and those living with chronic illness.

The reality in Pennsylvania, however, is somewhat different. There is simply not enough variety, or a large enough supply of homes, to meet the needs of the community. Here are some of the problems we are working to solve:

• 900,000 Pennsylvanians live in severely cost-burdened and/or substandard housing.


• 50,000 Pennsylvanians experience homelessness each year.


• Pennsylvania spends only $1.20 per capita on housing, much less than neighboring states.


• Inadequate housing is undermining healthy child development, family stability, worker productivity and neighborhood vitality.


• Pennsylvania is missing opportunities for greater job creation and economic growth, due to shortcomings in our housing development.


• Pennsylvania does little to address the housing needs of its citizens or to take advantage of the opportunities created by housing.

Mission | What We Do | Past Highlights | 2006 Legislative Wrap-Up | Accomplishments 2005 | Accomplishments 2004 | Accomplishments 2003