
National Fair Housing Month celebrates the passage of the Fair Housing Act, a national law that prohibits discrimination in the sale, rental and financing of housing based on race, color, national origin, religion, and gender. The Act was passed in in 1968 and amended in 1988 to include protections for people with disabilities and families with children.
Senate Democratic Caucus to Kick Off Fair Housing Month, Call for Housing Funding Legislation
April 2, 2025
Housing is a Fundamental Right
The Pennsylvania Senate Democrats will continue to fight for:
Equitable housing rights for all Pennsylvanians
Access to safe and affordable housing for all, including low-income earners and veterans
Transparency in laws, processes, and opportunities for homeowners and renters
An end to loopholes that perpetuate discriminatory and negligent practices by landlords
Financial assistance to help homeowners manage property costs and taxes related to rapid changes to neighborhoods and the effects of climate change
Fair Housing for All
Pennsylvania Housing Grants and Assistance
Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF)
As of March 18, 2024, the PAHAF program has reopened and is accepting applications.
Pennsylvania was awarded $350 million for the administration of the program and the disbursement of funds as part of the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021. Currently, the Pennsylvania Housing Financing Agency estimates that $48-$50 million in remaining PAHAF funds will be available to eligible new applicants for pandemic-related mortgage reinstatement, forward mortgage assistance, tax assistance, and delinquent utility bills.
For more information on the program, eligibility, and how to apply, visit the PAHAF website, or check out this list of FAQs.
Last updated April 8, 2024
Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund (PHARE)
PHARE is intended to assist with the creation, rehabilitation, and support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth.
For more information on available funds and programs, visit the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency website.
Homeowners' Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program
HEMAP was created to protect Pennsylvanians who, through no fault of their own, are financially unable to make their mortgage payments and are in danger of losing their homes to foreclosure. HEMAP is a loan program to prevent foreclosure. It is not a grant. Funds loaned must be repaid. Recipients must be able to show that they have a reasonable prospect of resuming full mortgage payments within the required timeframe. HEMAP is funded by State appropriations and through repayment of existing HEMAP loans. Please note that FHA Title II (purchase) mortgages are not eligible under this program.
Two types of assistance are available to the homeowner depending on income and the financial situation:
- continuing mortgage assistance loans; and,
- non–continuing mortgage assistance loans.
PHARE is intended to assist with the creation, rehabilitation, and support of affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth.
For more information on the program, visit the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency website.
Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit
The Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) program helps create affordable housing in the United States. Created by the Tax Reform Act of 1986, the LIHTC program gives State and local LIHTC-allocating agencies the equivalent of approximately $8 billion in annual budget authority to issue tax credits for the acquisition, rehabilitation, or new construction of rental housing targeted to lower-income households. In Pennsylvania, the federal tax credits are administered by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and approved by its board.
Home Investment Partnership Program
The Pennsylvania HOME Program is a federally funded program that provides municipalities with grant and loan assistance to expand and preserve the supply of decent and affordable housing for low- and very low-income Pennsylvanians. HOME funds can be used in a variety of ways to address critical housing needs in the Commonwealth, including market-oriented approaches that offer opportunities such as homeownership or rental activities to revitalize communities with new investment.
Neighborhood Assistance Program (NAP)
The Neighborhood Assistance Program is a tax credit program meant to encourage businesses to invest in projects which improve distressed areas.
A project must serve distressed areas or support neighborhood conservation. Projects must fall under one of the following categories: affordable housing programs, community services, crime prevention, education, job training or neighborhood assistance. A tax credit of up to 55% can be awarded.
Individuals can view the Neighborhood Assistance Program application checklist to help guide the application submission.
Filing a Complaint Against Discrimination
Any person who believes that he or she has been discriminated against or any representative of such a person may file a confidential complaint with the local government, the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission and/or HUD’s Office of Fair Housing and Equal Opportunity in Washington DC. More information is available from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development.
OUR PRIORITIES
2025-2026 Legislation
Senate Bill 497 - Radon Protection
Sponsored by Senator Christine Tartalione
This bill would require all residential rental properties, schools, and newly constructed properties in the Commonwealth to receive proper radon testing. If the property is found to have an unsafe level of radon, mitigation will be required to abate the toxic level of radon that exists.
Statewide Rental Rate Protections
Sponsored by Senator Amanda Cappelletti
This legislation would enforce rental rate protection measures to help combat unfair and predatory rental increases. It is important to note that this legislation exempts small landlords with less than 15 units.
Public Database of Affordable Housing
Sponsored by Senators Vincent Hughes and Nikil Saval
This bill would create a publicly accessible database of affordable housing projects in the Commonwealth under PHFA.
Optional Affordable Housing Trust Funds (Act 137) Enhancements
Sponsored by Senator Amanda Cappelletti
This bill would enhance the Optional Affordable Housing Funds Act. This program, known as Act 137, allows Pennsylvania counties to raise revenues for affordable housing needs by increasing fees charged for the recording of deeds and mortgages. These funds are an important source of revenue and contribute to a wide range of affordable housing projects in the 54 counties that have them in place. This bill will increase the maximum fee counties can impose under the Act 137 program and index it for inflation. It will also establish a Local Housing Trust Fund Community of Practice, to offer regular opportunities for information exchange among Act 137 contacts around the state.
Creating the “Survivor-centered, accessible, fair and empowering” (SAFE) Housing Trust Fund
Sponsored by Senator Vincent Hughes
This bill would establish the SAFE housing trust fund that will benefit survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, dating violence, human trafficking and stalking. The “Survivor-centered, accessible, fair and empowering” (SAFE) Housing Trust Fund will provide much needed funding to increase resources to domestic violence programs, transitional housing programs and permanent housing solutions to better respond to the needs of these survivors. It will ensure we do more to provide real support to the individuals leaving dangerous situations and ensure there are enough resources to meet shelter and housing needs.
Property Tax Constitutional Amendment for Seniors (formerly SB1075)
Sponsored by Senator Marty Flynn
This bill would empower local officials to make decisions related to property taxes that best fit their locales, while also providing opportunities for much needed property tax relief to senior citizens.
Fair Records for Renters
Sponsored by Senators Nikil Saval, Jay Costa, Judy Schwank and Camera Bartolotta
This bill would require courts to seal eviction case files unless and until a renter loses the case in court, at which point the records would be unsealed. In instances in which a tenant has lost their case, records will be sealed after seven years, similar to bankruptcy. The bill would require no additional costs or requirements for landlords or renters, as the courts would be responsible for sealing and unsealing eviction records.
Ensuring All Residential Homeowners Have Access to Solar Energy
Sponsored by Senator Katie Muth
This bill would ensure homeowners’ associations (HOA) allow for the installation of solar panels and solar energy systems on homes within their communities.
Our Members at Work
State Legislators Announce PA Home Preservation Program in Bipartisan Effort to Tackle Pennsylvania’s Housing Crisis
Responding to the enormous need revealed from the implementation of previous home repairs programs, the PA Home Preservation Program will increase the resources available to support critical health and safety repairs for low- and moderate-income homeowners. ...
Senate Democratic Caucus Rallies for Fair Housing Month, Calls for State Action on Safe, Affordable Homes for All
Harrisburg, PA − April 2, 2025 − Senate Democrats held a press conference on Wednesday to kick off Fair Housing Month, observed nationally every April, and call for state action on Housing. Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa was joined by Democratic...
Senate Democratic Caucus to Kick Off Fair Housing Month, Call for Housing Funding Legislation
Senator Hughes, Federal Lawmakers, and Advocates Fight Back Against Housing Discrimination
March 18, 2025 − Philadelphia, PA − Senator Vincent Hughes, PA Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair, gathered a group of federal and state lawmakers, housing advocates, and community members to call out Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE)...
Sen. Nick Miller Announces More Than $1.2 Million in State Funding for Affordable Housing in Northampton County
March 8, 2024 − Sen. Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton) announced today that two affordable housing projects in Northampton County will receive funding via the HOME Investment Partnerships Program, part of the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic...
Senator Hughes Celebrates Investments in Affordable Housing in Mantua
Philadelphia, PA − January 22, 2024 − Senator Vincent Hughes hosted a check presentation at 39thand Brown, in the Mantua neighborhood of Philadelphia, to celebrate a new state investment that will support affordable housing in the area. $500,000 was presented to...
Advocates & Resources

US House of Representatives
Phone: 202-225-3121

US Senate
Phone: 202-224-3121
National Fair Housing Alliance
Phone: 202-898-1661
https://nationalfairhousing.org/
Housing Equality Center of Pennsylvania
Phone: 267-419-8918
https://www.equalhousing.org/
Fair Housing Rights Center in Southeastern Pennsylvania
Phone: 215-625-0700
https://fairhousingrights.org/
Regional Housing Legal Services
Phone: 215-572-7300
https://www.rhls.org/
Urban League of Philadelphia
Phone: 215.985.3220
https://www.urbanleaguephila.org/
The Reinvestment Fund, authors of Mortgage Lending Activity Report
Phone: 215-574-5800
https://www.reinvestment.com/
Community Legal Services
Phone: 215-981-3700
https://clsphila.org/
PACDC
Phone: 215-732-5829
https://pacdc.org/
Housing Alliance
Phone: 215-576-7044
https://housingalliancepa.org/