Attainable Housing

With a growing gap between housing costs and wages, the dream of living in Chester County is slipping away for many families and individuals.

• 40% of our workforce is in the retail, accommodation, education, health, and food service industries.
• The median income for workers in these essential industries is $61,000 or less.
• Recent college graduates and other young professionals also have trouble finding housing they can afford.

Our long-term economic success depends on the availability of safe, attainable housing for our workforce. Employers need workers close by, especially in jobs like health care and emergency services. By creating ‘middle housing’ such as house-scale buildings with multiple units compatible in scale and form with single-family units, we will bridge the gap for struggling families.

In 2018 Westminster Presbyterian Church’s Home Team was formed to work to end homelessness and promote affordable housing in our county. The Home Team explains the problem and its impact as well as provide resources on their website and explores how we, as a community, can make housing attainable for all. Learn more facts about attainable housing in Chester County, watch additional videos about the crisis and discover how you can get involve and help.

Our region prospers only when we all prosper, when there are enough good, safe homes that people can afford. We need advocates to speak out for and support the changes that will make this happen. The lack of affordable housing impacts all of us, not just the households who are struggling.