Addressing ongoing housing crisis will improve economic development, testifiers say
Attainable housing attracts workers, boosts local businesses and communities
Rep. Ryan Bizzarro March 30, 2026 | 7:34 PM
CHESTER, March 30 – As the cost of housing continues to soar and demand outweighs supply, Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking a closer look at how to help more people afford to buy or rent a home. The House Majority Policy Committee convened a hearing in Chester on Monday, hosted by Rep. Carol Kazeem (D-Delaware) to discuss the housing crisis and how it impacts economic development.
“Whether you’re young or old, renting or buying, housing is a challenge that many people will face in their lifetime. We know that a strong housing market helps build a strong economy. But without it, businesses can’t grow, workers can’t stay, and communities can’t thrive when the cost-of-living pushes people out,” said Kazeem. “Housing is undoubtedly a human right. Making housing more affordable and attainable for everyone is one of the smartest investments we can make to strengthen our neighborhoods and keep our economy moving forward.”
Data shows that the median home sales price in Delaware County currently sits at around $300,000, steadily increasing over the past few years. In addition to rising housing costs, several key factors are contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, including the pace of construction unable to keep pace with housing demand, and an aging housing stock that is costly to maintain.
The Shapiro Administration recently released the state’s first Housing Action Plan that addresses these issues in a comprehensive, coordinated way. 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.
“Housing policy is about people – about the opportunities that Pennsylvanians have to build the life they want,” said Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the PA Department of Community and Economic Development. “This Plan works to expand those opportunities so a single mother can raise her children in the school district of her choice, so the young couple can transition from renting to owning in a neighborhood close to a job with sustainable wages, and so older adults can make the choice of where and how they embrace their next chapter.
Local elected officials and housing organizations testified how housing stability and economic development are deeply interconnected. In Trainer Borough, nearly one in four of the 1,700 residents live below the poverty line and housing values are significantly lower than neighboring communities. Housing advocates in the City of Chester testified about the aging infrastructure of the housing stock, saying older homes are becoming increasingly difficult and expensive for homeowners to maintain. Leaders say when housing conditions and communities decline, it becomes more difficult to attract residents, support businesses and encourage investment.
“Everyone deserves a place to call home in the state they love, but right now, too many Pennsylvanians are being priced out of their own communities. That’s unacceptable. We have a responsibility to make sure Pennsylvania is a place where people can live, work and build a future without being crushed by rising costs,” said House Majority Policy Chairman Ryan Bizzarro (D-Erie). “Attainable housing isn’t optional— it’s the foundation of a strong, stable community, and it’s time we start treating it like a top priority.”
Monday’s hearing was held in Lathem Hall at Widener University and featured testimony from Lisa Gaffney, Executive Director of the Chester Economic Development Authority, Morgan Boyd, Special Assistant to the Secretary of the PA Dept. of Community and Economic Development; Stefan Roots, Mayor Stefan Roots of the City of Chester; Councilwoman Tracy Tucker, Council Vice President of Trainer Borough; Annette Pyatt, Executive Director of the Chester Community Improvement Project; and Butch Bennett, Assistant Business Manager of the Philadelphia Building Trades Council. Testimony submitted for the hearing can be found here.
A livestream of Monday’s hearing is available here, and photos will be available here.
Information about this and other House Democratic Policy Committee hearings can be found at pahouse.com/policy.