Housing Crisis and Economic Development

Policy Committee    March 30, 2026

CHESTER, March 30 – As the cost of housing continues to soar and demand outweighs supply, Pennsylvania lawmakers are taking a closer look at how to help more people afford to buy or rent a home. The House Majority Policy Committee convened a hearing in Chester on Monday, hosted by Rep. Carol Kazeem (D-Delaware) to discuss the housing crisis and how it impacts economic development. In addition to rising housing costs, several key factors are contributing to the ongoing housing crisis, including the pace of construction unable to keep pace with housing demand, and an aging housing stock that is costly to maintain. 

• Hosts: Rep. Carol Kazeem (D-Delaware)
• Testifiers:
  • Lisa Gaffney- Executive Director, Chester Economic Development Authority
  • Morgan Boyd- Special Assistant to the Secretary, Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development
  • Stefan Roots- Mayor, City of Chester
  • Tracy Tucker- Councilmember, Council Vice President, Trainer Borough
  • Annette Pyatt- Executive Director, Chester Community Improvement Project
  • Butch Bennett- Assistant Business Manager, Philadelphia Building Trades Council

Agenda + Testimony

• Hearing agenda and testimony: Housing Crisis and Economic Development

Media Release + News Coverage

• Addressing ongoing housing crisis will improve economic development, testifiers say, March 30, 2026
• MyChesCo, Lawmakers Weigh Housing Fixes as Costs Push Residents Out, April 1, 2026

Video + Photos

• Click here to view the entire hearing
• Click here to view photos of the hearing