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Housing-Shortage

Housing affordability and production

Lehigh County and the broader Lehigh Valley face a severe housing shortage estimated around 10,000 units amid population growth, with rising rents and home prices pricing out workers such as first responders and nurses as well as young people and families. County Executive Josh Siegel has prioritized a Housing Production Fund (public-private model), more affordable/starter/mixed-use and smaller units including ADUs and micro-apartments, simplified permitting, eviction prevention such as right-to-counsel, and related investments tied to the county budget and economic development.

How should Lehigh County address its housing shortage and rising housing costs?

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Sources

The Morning Call — https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/11/election-2025-lehigh-executive/
Frequently called the top or most important issue by Siegel and candidates. The region is short ~10,000 housing units despite population growth
City & State PA — https://www.cityandstatepa.com/politics/2025/12/lessons-lehigh-interview-county-executive-elect-josh-siegel/410142/
Siegel’s priorities: Housing Production Fund (public-private model... more affordable/starter/mixed-use/smaller units
Lehigh Daily — https://lehighdaily.com/josh-siegel-proposes-sales-tax-study-homelessness-emergency-ice-limits-in-state-of-the-county-address/
Josh Siegel proposes sales tax study, homelessness emergency, ICE limits in State of the County address
Positions on this issue  ·  liberal → conservative
  1. Launch large public housing funds, mandate affordable units, expand tenant protections and right-to-counsel
  2. Create a county Housing Production Fund with public-private investment and streamline permits for affordable units
  3. Support targeted incentives and zoning tweaks for more starter and mixed-use housing without heavy mandates
  4. Rely mainly on private market development and limited incentives while reducing regulatory barriers
  5. Avoid new public housing spending or mandates and let supply respond only through deregulation and tax cuts