Bresnahan, Local Realtors, Community Leaders Hold Roundtable on Housing Priorities
TANNERSVILLE, PA: Today, U.S. Representative Rob Bresnahan, Jr. (PA-08) joined realtors, developers, educators, and community leaders for a roundtable covering housing priorities in Northeastern Pennsylvania. The group discussed the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which became law earlier this year, as well as local leaders’ ideas for improving housing access and affordability.
“Families across Northeastern Pennsylvania are working hard to afford a home, but too many are finding that the cost of buying or renting is out of reach,” said Rep. Bresnahan. “We need to build more homes, but unnecessary barriers that drive up costs, and make sure working families aren’t being pushed aside by massive investment firms buying up housing. The 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act takes important steps in that direction by expanding housing supply and giving families a fairer shot at a finding a place they can call home.”
Rep. Bresnahan was joined by:
- Chris Barrett, Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau President & CEO
- Chris Fahy, Pennsylvania Association of Realtors NEPA Region Government Affairs
- Christine Wilkins, Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors Board Member and Realtor at Wilkins & Associates
- Tiffanie Bailey Romey, Pocono Mountain Association of Realtors Realtor and Board President and Pennsylvania Association of Realtors Vice President
- Will Clauss, Realtor at Chant Real Estate
- Terry Soloman-August, Realtor, Luzerne County Association of Realtors Past President
- Robin Mediros, Realtor and Greater Scranton Board of Realtors Past President
- Erin Ward, Associate Dean for Student Services at Northampton Community College, Monroe Campus
- Lori Rudalavage, Vice President for Lending at PS Bank
- Jerrod Belvin, Empire Development Group General Manager
- Tom Campbell, Pocono United Way Vice President and Community Development of the Poconos Executive Director
During the roundtable, local housing leaders shared their experiences and perspectives on the barriers facing homebuyers, renters, developers, and communities across the region. Participants discussed the need to expand housing supply, streamline unnecessary zoning and permitting barriers, encourage new development, and make better use of existing building and public land.
Rep. Bresnahan discussed his support for the bipartisan 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which takes a comprehensive approach to addressing the nation’s housing challenges. The legislation increases housing supply, streamlines zoning and permitting, expands affordable housing construction, supports critical repairs for homeowners, and strengthens rental assistance programs. The legislation also addresses concerns about large institutional investors competing with families for newly built single-family homes. Under the bill, institutional investors that own 350 or more single-family homes are restricted from purchasing additional newly built single-family homes, helping ensure families have a fair opportunity to compete for homeownership.
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