Regular Session 2023-2024 House Resolution 0066 P.N. 0867

PRINTER'S NO. 867

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PENNSYLVANIA

HOUSE RESOLUTION

No.

Session of

2023

INTRODUCED BY SMITH-WADE-EL, MADDEN, KINSEY, BURGOS, SANCHEZ,

KAZEEM, HOWARD, STURLA, BELLMON, BOROWSKI, HILL-EVANS,

PARKER, CEPEDA-FREYTIZ, KHAN, WAXMAN, INNAMORATO, OTTEN,

KRAJEWSKI, BULLOCK AND MAYES, APRIL 10, 2023

REFERRED TO COMMITTEE ON HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT,

APRIL 10, 2023

A RESOLUTION

Directing the Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to

conduct a study and issue a report on the impact of housing

on health in this Commonwealth.

WHEREAS, Housing quality includes the physical condition of a

home, adequate and appropriate utility service, the

characteristics of the area in which a home is located and a

home's affordability; and

WHEREAS, Housing is considered affordable when it costs less

than 30% of a family's income; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 1.5 million Pennsylvania households spend

more than 30% of their income on housing; and

WHEREAS, Nearly 29% of children in this Commonwealth live in

cost-burdened households; and

WHEREAS, An individual who identifies as an ethnic minority

is more likely to live in unaffordable housing, which means the

individual is also more likely to face associated health

challenges; and

WHEREAS, The Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia reports a

Statewide shortage of 253,981 rental homes that are both

affordable and available to people at or below 30% of median

family income, often leading to homelessness; and

WHEREAS, People experiencing homelessness are more likely to

have health problems than those who are well-housed; and

WHEREAS, Inadequate nutrition and medical care are associated

with the lack of access to affordable housing; and

WHEREAS, Residents of highly impoverished, unsafe

neighborhoods have an increased likelihood of adverse physical

and mental health effects; and

WHEREAS, Substandard housing propagates infectious diseases

through contaminated water, poor waste disposal systems and

unsanitary conditions; and

WHEREAS, Substandard housing increases the risk of burns and

other injuries from exposed or unconventional heating sources,

unguarded windows and sills, broken glass, obsolete fixtures and

other hazards; and

WHEREAS, Children and senior citizens are particularly

vulnerable to the health effects of substandard housing; and

WHEREAS, More than 1,300 elderly Pennsylvanians have died

from accidental falls in unsafe houses; and

WHEREAS, Dampness, unfiltered air, poor ventilation, a lack

of heat and unclean or unsafe flooring contribute to respiratory

and pulmonary conditions, including asthma; and

WHEREAS, Homes that are poorly weatherized or lack adequate

utility service can contribute to ill health; and

WHEREAS, Statewide, 40% of the houses tested for radon have

high levels of the carcinogenic gas; and

WHEREAS, Older houses are a source of childhood lead exposure

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and lead poisoning; and

WHEREAS, Because Pennsylvania has the second largest number

of pre-1950 houses in the nation, lead remains a health hazard

in our communities; and

WHEREAS, A growing number of agencies and organizations

support research showing the direct effects of housing quality

on health; and

WHEREAS, The United States Department of Housing and Urban

Development, the Pennsylvania Safe and Healthy Homes Program,

the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation's Commission to Build a

Healthier America, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania, the

Center for Housing Policy, the Urban Institute, the Brookings

Institute and the Healthy Rowhouse Project are among these

entities; and

WHEREAS, Health care plans and providers in several states,

including Texas, Arizona and Pennsylvania, are working to

improve health care outcomes through housing; and

WHEREAS, Pennsylvania has begun to explore solutions through

the Department of Community and Economic Development's

Neighborhood Assistance Program; and

WHEREAS, The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center,

Allegheny Health Network and Children's Hospital of Philadelphia

are developing initiatives integrating housing and health; and

WHEREAS, The Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and

Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund provides significant aid to

households below 50% of median income and has made substantial

contributions to improving the housing stock and health of

thousands of Pennsylvanians; and

WHEREAS, Current State-specific data is required to better

provide for housing and health benefits in this Commonwealth;

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therefore be it

RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives direct the

Legislative Budget and Finance Committee to conduct a study and

issue a report on the impact of housing on health in this

Commonwealth; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include background information and

data relating to housing conditions, including access to utility

service, and health effects described in this resolution, a

review of health-related housing initiatives across the nation

and any other information or data deemed necessary or

appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the cost of

health expenditures related to unmet housing needs, including

Medicaid, Medicare and unreimbursed care provided by hospitals;

and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the health

care cost savings achievable through addressing unmet housing

needs; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of the efficacy

of particular interventions to address unmet housing needs,

improve health outcomes and reduce health care expenditures; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That the study include an analysis of disaggregated

sociodemographic data related to health and housing; and be it

further

RESOLVED, That the analyzed disaggregated sociodemographic

data be made publicly available on Open Data Pennsylvania; and

be it further

RESOLVED, That, in conducting the study, the committee

consult other departments, agencies, organizations, entities or

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persons as necessary or appropriate; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee solicit input from other

departments, agencies, organizations, entities or persons on

barriers to, and best practices for, collecting demographic

data; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee issue a report of its findings

and recommendations to the House of Representatives within one

year of the adoption of this resolution; and be it further

RESOLVED, That the committee's report of its findings and

recommendations include policy changes that the collected

demographic data indicates are necessary to reduce disparities.

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