Senate Co-Sponsorship Memo Aims to Expand Accessory Dwelling Units
Harrisburg, PA – Today, Senator Rothman(SD 34- R) released a co-sponsorship memo, along with Senators Laughlin (SD 49-R), Kearney (SD 26-D), and Saval (SD 1-D), outlining a bipartisan effort to expand housing options for the people of Pennsylvania. Currently, Pennsylvania is facing a severe shortage of housing that is driving up housing costs and stifling our economy. Addressing this challenge requires urgent, collaborative action from the General Assembly.
"We know that Pennsylvanians need more housing choices," said Stacie Reidenbaugh, President and CEO of 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania. "Today's cosponsor memo identifies an important solution - allowing homeowners to add an accessory dwelling unit or backyard cottage to their property to help address our housing challenges.”
The cosponsor memo introduced today lays the groundwork for legislation that would allow accessory dwelling units across the Commonwealth. Accessory dwelling units, or backyard cottages, are small homes added to a property in the backyard, above a garage, or in an attic or basement. They create more homes in existing communities, and can be an affordable, convenient option for an aging parent, a care giver, a renter, or a young adult just starting out. Seventeen states have already passed similar measures on accessory dwelling units to help ease their housing shortages.
This cosponsor memo recognizes the importance of addressing the current barriers that make homes scarce, and less affordable across the state. Layers of approvals, overcomplicated procedures and often contradictory and outdated rules add unnecessary costs and delays. Under the status quo, homeowners often need to hire an attorney to determine whether they can add an accessory dwelling unit to their own backyard, adding thousands of dollars to the cost. This new state legislation will streamline the process and establish basic statewide standards to bring certainty to homeowners and reduce housing costs for families.
"I applaud the bipartisan coalition of Senators that have worked to craft smart and practical legislation that will help Pennsylvania communities expand housing options for young families, older adults and others that desire this type and give homeowners the rights to determine how to best use their property,” said Phyllis Chamberlain, Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania. “The Housing Alliance looks forward to continuing to partner with the legislature to make this legislation a reality."
The PA Housing Choices Coalition looks forward to working with legislators on both sides of the aisle to pass this legislation to allow accessory dwelling units statewide, and to ensure every Pennsylvanian has a range of housing options within reach.
About the Organizations
The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania is a statewide coalition working to provide leadership and a common voice for policies, practices, and resources to ensure that all Pennsylvanians, especially those with low incomes, have access to safe, decent, and affordable homes. We promote common-sense solutions to balance Pennsylvania’s housing market and increase the supply of safe, decent homes for low-income people.
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is the statewide bipartisan advocate for responsible and efficient land use and partner for great places to live and work. We work with citizens, organizations, and public officials to create land use, infrastructure, development, and governance policies and projects that strengthen our economy, protect our resources, save money, and build healthy, vibrant and resilient communities for all.
The PA Housing Choices Coalition is a statewide, nonpartisan alliance of organizations committed to one goal: expanding housing choices for all Pennsylvanians through smart, bipartisan policy. Co-chaired by 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania and Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the coalition includes homebuilders, business leaders, economic experts, and more.
Press contact: Nicole Brunet, Program Director
10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania
nbrunet@10000friends.org | 267-225-1362