Pennsylvanians support more housing choices

POLL: PENNSYLVANIA VOTERS CONCERNED ABOUT HOUSING, SUPPORT REFORM

RESULTS SHOW STRONG DESIRE FOR ASSEMBLY ACTION ON HOUSING

A new poll of Pennsylvania voters conducted by the leading pollster YouGov shows broad, bipartisan support for policies currently being considered by the State Assembly that would allow more housing options across the Commonwealth. 

The poll, commissioned by the Pennsylvania Housing Choices Coalition, reveals that a large majority of voters in the Keystone State view the cost of buying or renting a home as a problem and support reforms to the Commonwealth’s housing policy — even when those reforms might reduce municipal zoning powers or alter existing neighborhood character:

  • 82% of voters view the cost of buying or renting a home as a problem

  • 64% of voters prioritize building more affordable and attainable housing over protecting the character of neighborhoods from change

  • 60% of voters prioritize building more homes and bringing down costs over preserving city governments’ power to determine where and what types of homes can be built

The poll asked voters’ opinions on a variety of policies that are currently filed in the General Assembly. An overwhelming majority of voters SUPPORT the following proposals currently under consideration:

  • Streamlining permitting (83%) 

  • Allowing offices and commercial buildings to be converted into housing (81%)

  • Allowing new housing in zones designated for office or commercial use (80%)

  • Allowing owners of single-family homes to build accessory dwelling units (ADUs) or granny flats on their property (73%)

Black Philadelphians, who were sampled in addition to a statewide baseline of all voters,  expressed both greater concern about the housing shortage and stronger support for state action than the general population — even when those reforms might reduce municipal zoning powers or alter existing neighborhood character:

  • 92% of Black Philadelphia voters view the cost of buying or renting a home as a problem, compared to 82% of all Pennsylvania voters

  • 68% of Black Philadelphia voters prioritize building more affordable and attainable housing over protecting the character of neighborhoods from change, compared to 64% statewide

  • 78% of Black Philadelphia voters prioritize building more homes and bringing down costs over preserving city governments’ power to determine where and what types of homes can be built, compared to 60% of all Pennsylvania voters

The poll sampled 801 Pennsylvania registered voters and 125 Black Philadelphian voters between April 4 and April 17, 2024 on issues related to housing. Additional information is available: