Bipartisan legislation introduced to battle blight, housing crisis

HARRISBURG – A bipartisan, bicameral effort led in part by local legislators is attempting to fight blight and the state’s housing crisis.

Senators David Argall (R-Schuylkill) and Nikil Saval (D-Philadelphia) sponsored the legislation in the Senate while Reps. Lindsay Powell (D-Allegheny), Brandon Markosek (D-Allegheny) and Tim Twardzik (R-Schuylkill) sponsored it in the House.

It proposes the Pennsylvania Home Preservation Program, which legislators say addresses the need by homing in on the most successful aspect of previous programs: the delivery of critical health and safety repairs for homeowners. The program, they say, will allow thousands of households across the commonwealth to repair their homes each year, simultaneously fighting disrepair and community displacement.

“As the chairman of Pennsylvania’s bipartisan Blight Task Force, I’ve seen firsthand how communities across our state, from our largest cities to towns with two streets, can be dragged down by blighted, decaying, rat-infested buildings,” said Argall. “Assisting families with critical repairs stops blight before it can take hold and ensures our neighborhoods are safe and thriving.”

“In today’s tight housing market, our program will help our neighbors stay in their homes while improving safety, comfort and peace of mind,” said Rep. Twardzik.

Nearly 60% of homes in Pennsylvania were built before 1970, and a quarter of occupied homes were built before 1940, leaving many homeowners struggling to keep up with needed repairs and crushing utility bills. A survey of Pennsylvania voters conducted in 2022 found that one in four lives in a home in need of a critical repair, and one in three struggles with utility bills that are “unaffordable.”

“Across Pennsylvania, families are living with leaking roofs, broken furnaces, and unsafe wiring, while repairs are out of reach,” said Rep. Powell. “This legislation creates a targeted, statewide program to address the most urgent health and safety issues in aging homes. By helping working families stay in their homes, we’re not just preventing displacement—we’re investing in the long-term stability and vitality of our communities.”

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