Pennsylvania Housing Needs Study (2003)
Study Introduction/Background
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency requested the Pennsylvania State
Data Center (PaSDC) to undertake a study to analyze housing needs across
the Commonwealth. The information in this study contains information from
the 2000 Census as well as the 1990 Census. This study was completed in three
phases.
The first phase is a series of county fact sheets that provide a
summary of population and housing statistics. These county fact sheets were
developed for each of the 67 counties and a total for the entire state. The
majority of the data is from the 1990 and 2000 Census of Population and Housing.
Information on population projections is from a study completed by the PaSDC
in 1998 called Detailed County Population Projections: Pennsylvania 1990-2020. Building
permit information is from the Construction Division, U.S. Bureau of Census
and, for this study, covers the years 1998-2002. Population migration information
is from IRS data that is provided by the U.S. Bureau of the Census and covers
the years 1995-2002. Included are items such as population change and projections,
age cohorts, population demographic and socio-economic characteristics, housing
characteristics, commuter data, migration statistics, income, and industry
summaries.
The second phase is an analytical report. This report answers questions such as what is the status of housing in Pennsylvania and is it adequately meeting the needs of the population. The report looks at rural needs, racial/ethnic/gender equity, growth areas and areas with declining population, and low income needs. This analysis will assist PHFA in program development and targeting the programs in areas that are needed.
The third phase is an affordable housing index. This index contains income and cost information for both owner-occupied as well as renter-occupied housing units.
