FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 20, 2023
Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission releases Fair Housing white paper
State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
Harrisburg, PA- The Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC) Fair Housing and Commercial Property Division is excited to announce the release of its white paper on The State of Fair Housing in the Commonwealth of PA.
The paper was developed by staff in the Fair Housing and Commercial Property Division of the PHRC. It outlines the challenges Pennsylvanians face when choosing where they would like to live a breakdown and explanation of the housing choices in Pennsylvania and the varying ways to access housing.
"The PHRC is committed to enforcing our state laws to protect equitable access to housing," said PHRC Fair Housing & Commercial Property Director Adrian Garcia. "Through the Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing mandate, it is our responsibility to take meaningful action to end housing discrimination. This paper outlines a path forward for not only the PHRC but the entire commonwealth."
The paper makes actionable recommendations for PHRC staff, commissioners, legislators, and fair housing partners. The key recommendations are the following:
- PHRC Commissioners should pursue implementing source of income protections through regulatory process.
- State legislators should improve housing condition protections for tenants through strengthening the Landlord-Tenant Act of 1951 to include statewide code enforcement.
- State legislators should improve housing access for Pennsylvanians by increasing funding for affordable and middle-market housing.
- PHRC should actively monitor housing situations for issues impacting fair housing choice; identifying issues through advisory councils and local partners and pursuing agency-initiated complaints when merited.
"Access to housing should come without artificial impediments and unwarranted bias based on race, religion, national origin, sex, handicap or family status, said PHRC Executive Director Chad Dion Lassiter. "I am proud of the work my team put in to researching this white paper. The recommendations and findings provide a framework for the commonwealth to ensure equitable housing for all."
About PHRC: PHRC, the state's leading social justice enforcement agency, urges anyone who has experienced acts of discrimination or hate to file a complaint with the PHRC by calling 717-787-4410.
Information and resources are also available at www.PHRC.pa.gov.
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