Pittsburgh Review

Gov. Tom Wolf (D-PA) recently met with General Assembly members, housing advocates, and colleagues in Philadelphia.

They praised the vital $375 million investment in the state's 2022-23 budget to deal with the affordable housing crisis, according to a news release from the governor's office. 

"Housing was a budget priority for the Pennsylvania Legislative Black Caucus because we believe investments in housing can build Pennsylvania’s Black middle class, narrow the racial wealth gap, and uplift distressed communities," Rep. Donna Bullock (D-Fairmount) said in the news release. "This historic investment of more than $400 million will have a significant impact on the lives of Black homeowners, homebuyers, and renters."

Officials emphasized that public opinion played a role in shaping the policy.

"We heard the calls from people across Pennsylvania to address the workforce and affordable housing crisis," Sen. Vincent Hughes  (D-Whitemarsh) said in the news release. "We fought for change and won with this major and historic $375 million housing investment, on top of the $55 million already in the budget. We can't wait to roll out these programs, and we will continue to fight to make sure Pennsylvanians have access and the right to safe and affordable housing."

Wolf summed up by laying out his rationale for the proposal.

"Safe, affordable housing is essential for families, for our communities, and for our commonwealth," he said in the news release. "That's why my administration and the General Assembly worked so hard to fund programs that support safe, affordable housing in this year's budget. We made a transformative investment in housing in Pennsylvania using federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, which is exactly why that money was given to states – to help our neighbors – and that's exactly what we are going to do."