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Candidates for Congress who would serve in Williamsport and eastern Lycoming County are keen on how crucial legislation supportive of ways to make housing more affordable has become.
U.S. Rep. Dan Meuser, R-Dallas, and Rachel Wallace, a Democrat challenger from Pottsville, have expressed views on housing leading up to the Nov. 3 general election.
"Housing affordability is a serious challenge, and increasing supply and bringing down the cost of building are critical to addressing it," said Meuser, adding how he helped enact what is known as the 21st Century ROAD to Housing Act, which, he said, cuts unnecessary government red tape, modernizes outdated federal housing programs, restricts large institutional investors from purchasing additional single-family homes, and gives lenders, such as community banks, greater ability to extend mortgages.
"Our part of Pennsylvania needs more affordable housing for working families," Wallace said.
She stated in her campaign promise that she would sponsor or write legislation to establish a new first-time homebuyer credit and a starter home construction credit.
In terms of rental properties conditions and tenants' rights, Wallace said legislation will be proposed to hold absentee landlords accountable and to fight blight.
Meuser said home ownership also applies to the military veterans throughout the district.
"I've also introduced the Veterans Housing Opportunity Act to better direct existing federal resources toward helping veterans find stable housing," Meuser said.
"These are practical steps to increase housing supply, lower costs, and make homeownership more attainable for working families," he said.