Sen. Killion’s affordable housing bill passes Senate

CHADDS FORD >> Senate Bill 30, introduced by state Sen. Tom Killion, R-9 of Middletown, establishing a state housing tax credit to incentivize private investment and create new and preserve existing affordable rental housing passed the Senate unanimously.

“Seniors, individuals with disabilities, families and children benefit from greater availability of affordable housing,” said Killion. “And this program will promote the job creating and economic potential of private rental developers by incentivize financing to return blighted and abandoned homes to productive reuse.”

According to the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania (HAP), the Commonwealth faces with a shortage of housing that is available and affordable, especially for households making 30 percent of median family income.

“Affordable housing is too hard to find in Pennsylvania,” said HAP Executive Director Phyllis Chamberlain. “For every

100 extremely low-income households, there are only

42 affordable units available. We support the State Housing Tax Credit because it stimulates private investment in affordable housing.”

“Our housing authority is a vital driver of economic development in the City of Chester,” said Steven Fischer, Executive Director of the Chester Housing Authority. “Tax Credit developments, in particular, help to spur further development in the surrounding community. By creating good, quality homes and communities for seniors, families, and others who need assistance, and managing them well, a housing authority like ours supports jobs and growth for the entire community.”

A state housing tax credit would mirror and be used in conjunction with the federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC). Federal LIHTC is the main vehicle for the creation and preservation of affordable rental housing in the Commonwealth and across the nation.

The legislation is cosponsored by a broad, bipartisan group, including Senate Appropriations

Committee Chairman Pat Brown, R-Lehigh, and Democratic Chairman Vincent J. Hughes, D-Philadelphia.

“Every dollar invested in housing results in nearly $20 in economic impact, including jobs in the community,” said Killion. “The federal affordable housing tax credit has proven to be very successful, and the state should incentivize investments to make affordable housing more widely available for Pennsylvanians.”