PRAR Participated as a Stakeholder in Regional Study Covering York, Lancaster, Chester and Union Counties

Can the people who work in our communities find housing that meets their needs?

That question impacts much more than the real estate market. It affects economic development, workforce recruitment and retention, community growth and the long-term health of our cities and counties.

The Catawba Regional Council of Governments (CRCOG) has announced the completion of the Catawba Regional Workforce Housing Study, an extensive regional effort examining workforce housing conditions, needs and opportunities across York, Lancaster, Chester and Union Counties.

The Piedmont Regional Association of REALTORS® was proud to participate as a stakeholder in this important initiative, providing perspective from the real estate industry and helping contribute to a broader regional conversation about housing.

More Than a Report

One of the most valuable aspects of the Workforce Housing Study is that it was designed to be used.

CRCOG has made individual reports available for:

• York County
• Lancaster County
• Chester County
• Union County

In addition to the county reports, an interactive regional housing dashboard allows community leaders, REALTORS®, employers, housing organizations and residents to explore housing and workforce information at an even more detailed level.

The dashboard includes information for counties, municipalities and other geographic areas throughout the region and will continue to be updated as newer data becomes available.

That means this resource can help local leaders not only understand today’s housing environment, but also continue monitoring changes over time.

Housing and Economic Development Are Connected

Communities across our region continue working to attract employers, support existing businesses and create economic opportunities.

But economic development also creates another important question:

Where will the workforce live?

Teachers, first responders, healthcare employees, manufacturing workers, service employees, young professionals and many others contribute to the daily strength of our communities.

If housing options do not keep pace with jobs, population changes and household needs, communities can face increasing challenges attracting and retaining that workforce.

Housing is therefore more than a real estate issue.

Housing is part of our region’s economic infrastructure.

There Is No One-Size-Fits-All Solution

York, Lancaster and Chester Counties are very different housing markets.

Individual municipalities within those counties are different as well.

A rapidly growing community may face very different housing pressures than a smaller municipality working to attract additional jobs, residents and investment.

That is why PRAR believes local housing conversations should begin with local data.

The Regional Workforce Housing Study gives counties and municipalities information they can use when considering issues involving:

• Housing supply
• Housing affordability
• Workforce and job growth
• Population and demographic changes
• Housing types
• Ownership and rental opportunities
• New housing construction
• Zoning and land use
• Infrastructure
• Development barriers
• Housing cost burden
• Community growth

The goal should not be to impose one housing solution across the region.

Instead, the study creates an opportunity for individual communities to evaluate their own needs and determine what strategies make sense locally.

The REALTOR® Perspective Matters

REALTORS® have an important perspective to bring to these discussions.

Our members work every day with:

• First-time homebuyers trying to enter the market
• Families searching for homes that meet their needs and budgets
• Employees relocating into the region
• Sellers evaluating changing market conditions
• Older residents seeking different housing options
• Renters hoping to transition into homeownership
• Employers concerned about workforce recruitment
• Builders and developers responding to consumer demand

REALTORS® see firsthand where housing demand exists, where inventory is limited and where buyers encounter barriers.

That real-world market knowledge should be part of discussions about the future of housing in our communities.

PRAR’s participation in the Workforce Housing Study reflects our commitment to making sure the real estate industry’s perspective is included.

An Ongoing Resource for Local Leaders

CRCOG has emphasized that these reports are not intended to simply capture one moment in time.

The study and interactive dashboard have been developed as ongoing resources for the region.

The dashboard provides information addressing questions including:

• How is the job market changing?
• How are wages changing?
• How is the population changing?
• Who is entering and leaving the workforce?
• How are household types changing?
• How are households changing by income?
• How much new housing is being permitted?
• Are housing and job growth keeping pace?
• How affordable is housing?
• What can households afford to purchase?
• How many households are housing-cost burdened?
• What does the existing housing stock look like?
• How tight is the housing market?

Users can also explore data at more localized geographic levels and download information for further analysis.

From Data to Local Solutions

Completion of the Workforce Housing Study should be the beginning of the next conversation—not the end of it.

PRAR encourages elected officials, county and municipal leaders, planning commissions, economic development organizations, employers, REALTORS® and community partners to review the information for their communities.

Not every strategy will be appropriate everywhere.

But better information can lead to better conversations.

And better conversations can lead to thoughtful local solutions that balance housing needs, responsible growth, infrastructure, private property rights and community priorities.

PRAR Will Continue to Be Part of the Conversation

Housing is fundamental to strong communities.

As the voice of REALTORS® throughout York, Lancaster and Chester Counties, PRAR will continue working with local governments, community organizations and regional partners to promote informed conversations surrounding:

Housing availability. Housing affordability. Responsible growth. Private property rights. Homeownership. Strong communities.

Our region’s future is not simply about how many jobs or residents we attract.

It is also about whether the people who make our communities work have opportunities to call them home.

Explore the Study

View the Catawba Regional Workforce Housing Study, including the York, Lancaster and Chester County reports:
https://catawbacog.org/community___economic_development/catawba_regional_workforce_housing_study.php

Explore the Interactive Workforce Housing Dashboard:
https://catawba.communityscale.io/dashboard