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Committee advances Home Preservation Grant Program to assist homeowners with repairs
Summary
House Bill 1650 would establish a PA Home Preservation Grant Program to help low-income, elderly and other vulnerable homeowners make repairs and accessibility modifications; the committee reported the bill 23–3 after debate over eligibility and administration.
The Housing & Community Development Committee reported House Bill 1650, the PA Home Preservation Grant Program, to the floor after testimony from sponsors and a committee discussion about eligibility, administration and program design.
Representative Torczyk, a sponsor, said the program "serves communities where our neighbors are struggling to keep their homes safe and communities vibrant," and described the measure as a way to help residents "keep people in their homes" in a tight housing market. Representative Powell, another sponsor, told the committee the bill was rebuilt from an initial pilot and a widely used program funded by the American Rescue Plan Act.
Committee members praised the intent but raised questions about program details. Representative Krogewski, an original sponsor of the Whole Home Repair pilot, stressed urgent need and told members about homeowners in hazardous conditions. Representative Jones said she supported the bill's goals but expressed concern that the household income threshold for eligibility is "too high" and that the bill does not prioritize veterans specifically. Representative Schaefer said he favors community-based nonprofit administration and asked whether organizations such as Habitat for Humanity would qualify;Representative Powell answered that the bill allows counties to designate another party, including nonprofit organizations, to administer the program.
Sponsors and members described examples of assistance from earlier funding rounds: one member recounted a constituent with Parkinson's who received help and remains in her home. Committee debate also included concerns about the program's total spend and the appropriate qualification thresholds for households; one member said the program "had dried up real quick" after pilot funding was spent.
The committee reported the bill by a recorded vote of 23 to 3; the transcript records ‘‘the bill will be reported as committed 23 to 3.’’ The committee did not adopt amendments during this hearing. Next steps include consideration on the legislative floor and any further fiscal analysis or amendments.
