Assessment and Analysis of Housing Quality and Policies in Rural Pennsylvania

Abstract

Sub-quality housing can have negative effects on both the safety and health of residents and on the overall social welfare and economic vitality of the community. Rural areas in Pennsylvania tend to suffer more from issues related to sub-quality housing; however, there is currently no statewide data on housing quality. One of the main goals of this project was to create, validate, and map an index to measure housing quality in rural Pennsylvania to observe spatial patterns and identify socioeconomic factors that are related to housing quality. Second, the research team analyzed the 2019 Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) to identify factors that could affect applicants’ chances of getting a home improvement loan. Third, this project reviewed five state-level home repair/improvement loans in terms of their requirements and eligibility criteria. This overview allowed the team to identify strengths and weaknesses of the programs, which can then be used by policymakers in consideration of housing improvement loan policies. Fourth, the research team compiled a dataset of property maintenance codes adopted by rural municipalities in Pennsylvania. These data provide first-hand information on approaches rural municipalities currently take to maintain the safety and health of local housing stocks. Lastly, the researchers conducted an online survey to collect information from local municipal administrators and/or code officers regarding the effectiveness of property maintenance codes and challenges faced by local authorities. The final project goal was to provide information in support of improving and maintaining housing quality in rural Pennsylvania.