The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund can help with late mortgage payments, utility bills, and property taxes, as well as other housing costs.
Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA
Fair Housing in Pennsylvania: Where We Stand and What Comes Next
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Asia Tabb
Amanda Berg / For Spotlight PA
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund can help with late mortgage payments, utility bills, and property taxes, as well as other housing costs.
Aired; February 19, 2026
Listen to the podcast to hear the full conversation.
Fair housing is often viewed as a civil rights issue of the past—but according to the latest report from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission (PHRC), the challenges facing Pennsylvanians today are urgent, evolving, and deeply interconnected.
Brittany Mellinger, Director of Fair Housing and Commercial Property at PHRC, joined The Spark to break down the Commission’s updated Fair Housing White Paper and what it reveals about access, opportunity, and ongoing barriers across the Commonwealth.
Why Release an Updated Fair Housing Report Now?
PHRC first released its white paper in 2023. Since then, housing conditions have shifted significantly.
While many core concerns remain—like discrimination and affordability—the broader housing environment has changed, with escalating shortages and heightened pressure on vulnerable communities.
The updated report reflects new data, updated patterns, and renewed urgency.
What “Fair Housing” Really Means
Fair housing isn’t just about blatant discrimination.
It includes:
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Freedom from discrimination based on protected characteristics
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Equal access to housing opportunities
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The ability to maintain stable housing
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Protection from retaliation when reporting violations
It also considers whether broader housing systems prevent people from securing or keeping homes—even when discrimination isn’t explicit.
The Most Common Complaints: Disability Discrimination
One of the most reported forms of housing discrimination in Pennsylvania involves disability.
This often includes:
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Denial of reasonable accommodations (such as service or support animals)
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Refusal to allow modifications like grab bars or accessibility adjustments
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Policies that prevent individuals with disabilities from fully using and enjoying their housing
These barriers can make the difference between stability and displacement.
Source of Income Discrimination
One major recommendation in the report is strengthening protections against “source of income” discrimination.
Currently:
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There is no federal protection.
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Pennsylvania does not have statewide protections.
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Some localities offer limited safeguards.
Source of income discrimination occurs when landlords refuse to rent to tenants based on how they pay their rent—for example:
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Housing Choice Vouchers
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Social Security or disability benefits
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Retirement income
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Child support or alimony
In many parts of Pennsylvania, landlords can legally advertise “No vouchers accepted.”
This disproportionately affects seniors, individuals with disabilities, and families relying on assistance programs. PHRC argues that adding these protections would expand equal housing access across the state.
Disparate Impact: When “Neutral” Policies Aren’t Neutral
The report also clarifies how discrimination is defined.
Many people think of discrimination as direct denial—refusing to rent to someone based on race, disability, or family status.
But PHRC emphasizes “disparate impact” as well.
Disparate impact refers to policies that appear neutral but disproportionately harm protected groups.
For example:
A housing provider might require full-time employment for all tenants. While not explicitly discriminatory, statistics show individuals with disabilities are less likely to be employed full-time. That policy, therefore, disproportionately excludes them.
Such policies may still violate fair housing principles if less restrictive alternatives exist.
Ongoing Segregation Patterns
The report acknowledges that measurable segregation remains in Pennsylvania communities.
Historical practices—like 1930s redlining maps—limited investment in communities of color. Many of those demographic and wealth patterns remain visible today in housing, health, and economic data.
While overt redlining is illegal, its legacy continues to shape opportunity and access.
Housing Affordability and Its Intersection with Fair Housing
Pennsylvania faces a shortage of more than 200,000 affordable housing units.
Affordability itself is not a protected class issue—but when housing becomes scarce, vulnerable communities are disproportionately affected.
Those most impacted often include:
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Individuals with disabilities
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Communities of color
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Older adults
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Single-parent households, especially female-headed households
Housing shortages can amplify discriminatory patterns and limit reporting of violations—especially when tenants fear losing their housing options altogether.
Code Enforcement and Aging Housing Stock
Pennsylvania has one of the oldest housing stocks in the country.
Many calls to PHRC’s fair housing line involve basic livability concerns:
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Lack of heat
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Plumbing failures
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Mold
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Pest infestations
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Structural deterioration
While some municipalities have strong property maintenance enforcement systems, many—particularly rural areas—do not.
Without consistent code enforcement, tenants may feel trapped. Reporting issues or withholding rent can risk eviction or lease non-renewal.
PHRC recommends stronger, more uniform code enforcement across the state to protect families and stabilize housing conditions.
The Bigger Picture
The updated Fair Housing White Paper from the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission makes clear that fair housing is not just about preventing discrimination—it’s about ensuring equal opportunity, stability, and safety in an increasingly strained housing market.
While significant progress has been made over decades, the report shows that systemic barriers, affordability challenges, and evolving housing dynamics require continued attention and policy action.
Fair housing, it turns out, is not a relic of the past—it’s an ongoing civil rights responsibility.
