Pennsylvania’s housing shortage is no longer a distant concern — it is a present and growing crisis. In Philadelphia and communities across the Commonwealth, families are being priced out, young professionals are struggling to put down roots, and seniors on fixed incomes are feeling the strain of rising housing costs. At the same time, employers are finding it harder to attract and retain talent.
If we want to expand access to housing, we need to build more homes – but we must do it in a way that respects neighborhood character and gives communities a real voice in how that growth happens. More housing and neighborhood control are not competing ideas – they are how we move forward and responsibly increase the housing supply.
If we are serious about economic growth and maintaining a high quality of life, we must be equally serious about getting this balance right. As a state senator representing Philadelphia, I hear regularly from constituents who are feeling the strain. Rent continues to rise. The dream of homeownership feels increasingly out of reach for too many families looking for attainable housing. Meanwhile, outdated policies and bureaucratic hurdles continue to slow the construction of new homes. This is not a problem we can afford to ignore — and it is one we can solve with thoughtful, targeted action that increases the housing supply while preserving the integrity of our neighborhoods…