New Zoning Codes, Localized Response Needed For Montco Homeless Crisis: Study

NORRISTOWN, PA — The homelessness crisis in Montgomery County requires a more localized response, increased partnerships between government and nonprofits with available beds, and changing zoning laws, county officials say.

The insights are from the Montgomery County Homelessness Task Force's latest report, which aims to address the root causes of a crisis that has proliferated in the region and across many parts of the country in the wake of the pandemic and related social instability.

“Homelessness is a reality for many men, women and families that not only impacts those living without steady shelter, but also those in our neighborhoods and communities," Lansdale Borough Manager and taskforce member John Ernst said. "It has a ripple effect through the entire society, and it benefits us all to break the cycle."

The key findings stressed the need for more beds to accommodate the homeless population in the short term. With basic shelter, a homeless individual can begin taking steps to get permanent shelter, benefits, and even employment.

The task force recommended a localized response in partnership with both community organizations and individual municipalities to "strategically place emergency short-term housing and mobile services for the unhoused throughout the county."

Four municipalities have already signed on to such "implementation" plans to provide additional shelters: Lansdale, Lower Merion, Upper Moreland, and West Norriton.

The task force noted that changing zoning codes were required in many areas to allow nonprofits to provide shelter for the homeless. In some places, churches are prohibited from doing this by code. Improved zoning also will allow for the repurposing empty or abandoned buildings, which make way for developing more housing at below market rates.

Homelessness numbers have been steadily growing for years. The pandemic and inflation only exacerbated underlying systemic issues like income inequality and an insufficient safety net, and society's most vulnerable are paying the price.

The county is trying, but officials put the crisis simply in last year's report: "systemic drivers into homelessness have been stronger than the ability to quickly re-house households experiencing homelessness." And numbers could get worse.

According to the Montgomery County Planning Commission, there are only 37 affordable rental units per 100 households making below $35,000 a year countywide. Moreover, more than 65 percent of renter households below the $35,000 a year threshold pay more than 50 percent of their monthly income toward rent and utilities.

Two new Code Blue sites, providing emergency shelter during cold weather emergencies, have been established in the past year. The county has also applied $30 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, helping to create new affordable housing units, shelters, outreach programs, and more.

The task force included former county Commissioner Ken Lawrence and 46 representatives from across various leadership positions around the county.