Proposed Bill in PA Looks to End Limits on Student Housing
A proposed bill in Pennsylvania would prohibit rental discrimination against students and abolish restrictions on the number of unrelated people allowed to live in a house or apartment. Sponsored by Rep. Sue Helm and backed by landlords, the measure has received opposition from towns that already deal with perennial college town complaints pertaining to noise and crowding. Several towns have ordinances in place that limit housing to two or three unrelated persons, reports Philly.com. Typical complaints range from disturbing the peace to underage drinking. Helm argues towns already have separate ordinances in place to deal with those woes. More than 50,000 students attend colleges and universities in Philadelphia and its surrounding counties and there is simply not enough housing to accommodate all of them. Lower Merion Township Commissioner Scott Zelov says the best solution would be to house all students on campus. One college in the area, Villanova University, won approval this month to build new dormitories that will increase the number of students living on campus. [PHI]
