Housing Reform

We’re working for affordable housing opportunities

Housing is an integral part of the American Dream

Home ownership is the way that most Americans amass wealth. The equity built up in a starter home can act as a stepping stone to a larger family home, an insurance policy against financial setbacks, or a retirement savings account.

Owning property is also a pathway to freedom. Unlike renters, homeowners have a say over the design, renovations, and maintenance of their property. Owning property also creates personal investment in the community.

We The People Party of Pennsylvania believes that home ownership should be more than a dream. It should be an obtainable reality.

  • Competition from private equity firms is driving up the cost of housing. While private equity firms may have a role to play in the distressed housing market or large rental complex market, they should not be allowed to buy up single family homes.

    Home ownership is part of the American dream and a stepping stone that helps many families build wealth and financial security. Competing for existing single family homes against large firms that offer cash and overmarket prices creates an unfair barrier to that dream.

  • Too many of our neighborhoods are zoned exclusively for single family detached homes. This restriction has led to an estimated housing shortage of over 5 million homes nationwide. The low supply and high demand for homes has increased prices and frozen many young people and lower-income families out of the market.

    Allowing duplex and triplex units to be built in residential neighborhoods opens up the market to allow people to afford a starter home, where they can build equity.

    Allowing homeowners to add a unit to their existing home like a mother-in-law suite opens possibilities for them to reduce their housing costs by adding a tenant or care for an aging relative.

  • Minimum lot size and square footage laws prevent builders from meeting the need of low income housing. A young couple may not have the ability to afford a large home on a half acre lot.

    Small two bedroom homes and duplexes can make wonderful starter homes for first time home owners who might otherwise be frozen out of the market.

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  • Students are not a protected category.

    3 unrelated rule - disallows more than 3 unrelated people to occupy an apartment