Housing Votes in PA House Show Promise

Our government can still get stuff done. 

In our state Capitol, we should take note that the House Majority Democrats prioritized two bills for final passage that – if passed in the Senate – can move the needle in different ways for our housing priorities. 

Rep. Izzy Smith-Wade-El (49th-Lancaster), who you may recall from our kickoff courthouse rally two years ago and a handful of Zoom briefings, has championed an eviction record sealing bill that cleared the House earlier this week with a 105-98 vote. 

“Evictions have contributed to the spiraling housing crisis in Pennsylvania by making it difficult, if not impossible, for deserving working Pennsylvanians to access safe and affordable housing in which to raise their children and help them secure and keep career-advancing jobs,” Smith-Wade-El, D-Lancaster, said in a press release. 

HB 1095 would put procedures into place to limit public access to eviction records in cases such as “no-fault evictions.” In cases where the tenant failed to pay rent or was otherwise deemed at fault, the record would be sealed after seven years. According to Smith-Wade-El, most landlords and property managers now use automated tenant screening measures that deny the application of anyone with a single eviction record, even if the motion to evict was withdrawn, the court found in favor of the tenant, or the tenant was enduring domestic violence when evicted.

Rep. Smith-Wade-El rallied on the Montgomery County Courthouse steps with us in April 2023. Rep. Greg Scott is pictured behind him.

This bill was a priority talking point earlier this month when a large group of housing and mental health advocates visited the Capitol on June 4. 

Less than a week after our visit, we notched another major WIN with a PA House vote to cap rent increases on manufactured homes at 2 to 4% (inflation). 

The vote was 144-59, with many Republicans in support.

 Thank you, Rep. Liz Hanbidge, Rep. Joe Webster, and Rep. Melissa Cerrato for introducing House Bill 1250 and calling these monumental rent hikes what they are --- the exploitation of those on fixed incomes by corporations and private equity firms.

 Call or write your State Senator and let's get this legislation – and HB 1095 – signed into law!

When persistent and determined advocates rally for housing and mental health solutions -- alongside public servants in positions of power -- change is possible! You can learn more about our priorities here.