Deliberative Forums, Real Community Impact.
Events that help us understand the needs and solutions as identified by the community!.
What is a Deliberative Forum?
What is a Deliberative Forum?
A Deliberative Forum is a structured community conversation designed to bring together a diverse group of residents to learn about an issue, consider multiple perspectives, and discuss potential solutions. Participants receive balanced background information, hear from one another in small-group discussions, and reflect on trade-offs before sharing their views. The goal is not to advocate for a specific outcome, but to create informed dialogue and better understand community priorities and values.
Why @Home and SCCAP Host Deliberative Forums
@Home and South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) host Deliberative Forums to ensure that housing and community development efforts are guided by informed community input. These forums help surface shared priorities, identify areas of support, and understand concerns related to attainable housing, transportation, and economic development. By engaging residents in thoughtful discussion, @Home and SCCAP can work collaboratively with municipalities, businesses, and partners to develop solutions that reflect local values and strengthen community support for future initiatives.
Our Forums
The Adams County Deliberative Forum
In collaboration with Franklin & Marshall College Center for Opinion Research and the Franklin & Marshall College Center for Politics and Public Affairs, South Central Community Action Programs hosted a Deliberative Forum, or “mini-public,” on housing in Adams County on June 21, 2025. Invitations were mailed to randomly selected Adams County households, and from those who responded, 50 participants (plus six alternates) were chosen to reflect the county’s demographics.
After several scheduling changes, five alternates filled openings for individuals who could not attend. Ultimately, 47 randomly selected residents participated in the forum, held at St. James Lutheran Church in Gettysburg. The process ensured a diverse and representative group of residents engaged in informed discussion about housing needs and potential solutions for the community.
“We need more of this. Talking about issues and solutions. Working together locally to solve problems! “
Quote from a participant
The Adams County Deliberative Forum Report
The Deliberative Forum revealed strong community consensus that attainable housing is an urgent priority in Adams County. Participants identified housing aligned with local incomes as the most important issue facing the county, with 100% agreeing that affordable housing is a major problem.
Residents showed overwhelming support for practical solutions such as reusing vacant buildings, rehabilitating existing homes, allowing smaller lot sizes, and permitting duplexes and triplexes in appropriate areas. Participants also emphasized the importance of housing located near jobs, schools, and services.
By the end of the forum, support for additional housing increased significantly, optimism about solutions grew, and 81% of participants said they were willing to speak with elected officials about addressing housing challenges.
“I am so glad I came. I knew it would be interesting, but I learned so much! Now, how do we take action? “
Quote from a participant
The Franklin County Deliberative Forum
@Home in Franklin County is planning a Deliberative Forum on housing to be held Saturday, April 25, 2026. Similar to the Adams County forum, this event will bring together a diverse group of randomly selected residents to learn about local housing trends, discuss community priorities, and explore potential solutions.
The forum is designed to gather informed community input that can guide future housing development efforts in Franklin County. A briefing document is under development to support the discussion and will be posted on the website as soon as it is finalized.
More to come!!
The Adams County Municipal Deliberative Workshop
Building on the findings of the Deliberative Forum, @Home hosted a Municipal Deliberative Workshop in March 2026 to engage local leaders in exploring practical land use and zoning strategies to increase attainable housing.
The workshop brought together municipal officials from across Adams County’s boroughs and townships to review local data, share experiences, and discuss tools such as infill development, adaptive reuse, and flexible zoning options.
The purpose was to provide a supportive, peer-learning environment where municipalities could explore solutions while maintaining local control. Participants responded positively, engaging in thoughtful discussions, identifying shared challenges, and expressing interest in continued collaboration, technical support, and resources to help implement locally appropriate housing strategies. They recommended we host a deliberative forum for developers next.
Working together to gain understanding!
@Home and South Central Community Action Programs (SCCAP) are available to partner with municipalities to host additional local forums tailored to specific needs. These forums provide opportunities for residents, local leaders, and stakeholders to review local data, discuss community priorities, and explore practical solutions related to housing development. By creating space for informed dialogue, these conversations help municipalities and communities in Adams and Franklin Counties better understand local challenges, identify areas of support, and develop strategies that reflect community values. To learn more email home@sccap.org