Last week, Gov. Josh Shapiro announced a Housing Action Plan to address the Commonwealth’s critical housing needs. The plan outlines the current state of housing, provides projections on housing needs, and offers 30 strategic initiatives to ensure every Pennsylvanian has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. The initiatives are centered on five key goals:

• Building and preserving Pennsylvania’s “housing stock,” to ensure that new houses are being built at a steady pace while safeguarding the homes we already have;
• Expanding housing opportunity for every Pennsylvanian;
• Providing pathways to housing stabilization and sustainability;
• Modernizing Pennsylvania’s housing development regulation to cut red tape and streamline development; and
• Improving coordination and accountability across agencies to stay accountable to residents statewide.

The PA Chamber was asked for input as the plan was being developed and participated in a Jan. 2025 stakeholder roundtable in the Governor’s office to share the business community’s perspective on housing challenges and potential remedies, many of which are reflected in the final report.

The Governor’s Housing Action Plan was spearheaded by an executive committee of cabinet officials and senior leaders from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), Governor’s Office of Policy and Planning, Legislative Affairs, and Budget Office; and Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). It is the culmination of an Executive Order signed in 2024 by the governor, with a goal of positioning Pennsylvania as a national leader on housing access and affordability by 2035.

Read more.