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Article published August 4, 2010
Many struggle to find low-income housing
MARSHALL TWP — Professionals and advocates from as far away as Somerset County and Erie attended a Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania forum Thursday to discuss and learn about reshaping the state's housing market. The regional forum was hosted by the Housing Alliance of Southwestern Pennsylvania at the Regional Learning Alliance in Cranberry Woods. Liz Hersh, executive director of the Housing Alliance, told those assembled that rental and mortgage costs, as well as the availability of quality, inexpensive housing, are out of reach for the millions whose earnings are in the lower-income categories. Hersh said in Butler County, an hourly wage of $14.04 is required to rent the average two bedroom apartment. She said there are only 41 to 50 of those units per 100 working families in the county. "Hardworking families, seniors and people with disabilities are struggling to find and maintain homes they can afford," Hersh said. She said from 71 percent to 80 percent of Butler County families living at or below low-income status face severe cost burdens in maintaining housing plus other regular expenses. Hersh said the housing market supply is not meeting the demand for low-income families and development of housing for Pennsylvania's hard-working families would be an economic boon to the community through the creation of jobs, increased manufacturing and retail business, and other factors. Hersh said while 300,000 units remain vacant across the state, the shortage of affordable rental units for the lowest income families grew by 50,000 to 220,000 units. She said an hourly wage of $11 to $12 is considered extremely low income. Hersh advocated repair and renovation of existing multifamily buildings as the option that would have the best effect on the region where it is located. Megan Rummel, who is a third-generation mobile home park owner, also attended the forum to promote mobile home parks as an affordable housing option. She and her husband operate the 176-unit Brady Hills Mobile Home Park, formerly Peter Rabbit Campground, in Brady Township. Rummel said mobile homes offer several positive qualities, including: • An alternative to city living. • A good housing situation for newly married couples, recent divorcees, and single parents who want a yard for their children • An inexpensive living situation that allows tenants to save money for a home. Rummel said she would like to dispel the stigma of mobile home living. She said her park has good people living in it. Asked what she would take away from Thursday's forum, Rummel said awareness.
