By Maurice Muhammad
UPDATED: December 8, 2024 at 7:31 AM EST
See the original article here
Last month, members of the Pennsylvania Save Our Homes coalition traveled to Harrisburg to advocate for an essential cause: sealing eviction records. This campaign is not merely a legislative push — it is a fight for fairness and stability for thousands of families in the Lehigh Valley and beyond.
As a HUD-approved housing counseling agent serving this region, I’ve seen firsthand the devastating ripple effects of eviction filings, which unfairly follow tenants and lock them out of future housing opportunities. In the Lehigh Valley, this problem is especially acute. With a median rent increase of over 15% in the last three years and wages failing to keep pace, housing insecurity is at an all-time high. According to the Eviction Lab, Northampton and Lehigh counties have seen over 7,000 eviction filings in the past year alone — a staggering 11% increase from pre-pandemic levels. Behind these numbers are real people — parents, children, and seniors — struggling to maintain stable housing in an increasingly unaffordable market.
Eviction records are public filings, accessible to landlords and screening agencies, often disqualifying tenants from renting again — even if the eviction was dismissed, or the tenant prevailed in court. This practice disproportionately harms low-income families, single mothers, and people of color, especially in cities such as Allentown, Bethlehem, and Easton, where affordable housing is already in short supply.
Tenant leaders from across Pennsylvania, including those from the Lehigh Valley, have shared their powerful stories with elected officials in Harrisburg. Their testimonies reveal the human cost of eviction filings: lost housing opportunities, displacement, and prolonged financial instability. Despite this, House Bill 1769 — a measure to seal eviction records — has stalled. Opposition from landlord associations and harmful amendments have delayed its passage, leaving families vulnerable to permanent housing instability.
The Lehigh Valley mirrors the national housing crisis, but with unique local challenges. Allentown, for instance, has a poverty rate of nearly 27%, far above the state average. Bethlehem and Easton, while growing in population, also face gentrification pressures that drive up rents and displace long-time residents. The region’s economic recovery post-COVID has been uneven, with many families still grappling with job losses or underemployment.
Meanwhile, eviction filings are rising. In Allentown alone, court dockets are filled with cases that frequently involve minor rent arrears or disputes that could be resolved through mediation. These filings become permanent scars on tenants’ records, making it nearly impossible to secure future housing. This cyclical injustice compounds the region’s housing inequities, creating neighborhoods of instability and economic stagnation.
Sealing eviction records is not about protecting bad tenants, it’s about giving families a fair chance to recover from life’s hardships. Many evictions result from unavoidable circumstances such as job loss, medical emergencies or unaffordable rent hikes — not from tenant negligence. Yet the current system punishes these individuals indefinitely, perpetuating poverty and homelessness.
Sealing records would also encourage better landlord-tenant relationships. By removing the automatic disqualification of tenants with past filings, landlords can assess applicants more fairly, based on current income, references and creditworthiness. California and New York have already implemented similar measures, with promising results. Pennsylvania can — and must — follow suit.
To my neighbors in the Lehigh Valley: this fight affects us all. Stable housing is the foundation of healthy, thriving communities. When families are secure in their homes, they contribute to the local economy, their children succeed in school, and our neighborhoods become stronger.
To our elected officials: the people of the Lehigh Valley are watching. Bold leadership is needed to pass House Bill 1769 and similar measures. This is not just about housing — it’s about justice, equity and the future of our communities.
Our coalition is not giving up. We are preparing for the next legislative session, organizing more testimonies, and building grassroots support. But we cannot do it alone. We need residents to join this movement, to write to their representatives, and to demand change. Together, we can create a fairer, more compassionate housing system that offers everyone a chance at stability and success.
As someone who has spent over 25 years working in housing, real estate and economic development, I know how transformative secure housing can be. I’ve helped families transition from renting to homeownership, navigated the challenges of property management, and educated future real estate professionals. But the fight for housing justice is far from over, especially in a region as dynamic and diverse as the Lehigh Valley.
With its mix of urban growth, historic neighborhoods, and tight-knit communities, the Lehigh Valley deserves policies that reflect its resilience and potential. Sealing eviction records is a crucial step toward this goal, ensuring that no family is permanently sidelined by a past hardship. Let’s work together to make housing justice a reality for all.
Maurice Muhammad is a HUD-approved housing counseling agent serving the Lehigh Valley and New Jersey. He is also the economic development chair of the Allentown NAACP Chapter.
Originally Published: December 8, 2024 at 7:30 AM EST
