HARRISBURG -- Mercer County faces a shortage of affordable rental housing that the state can help address, says the head of a local social services agency who lobbied lawmakers here Wednesday.

Ron Errett, chief executive officer of the Mercer County Community Action Agency, joined other officials from organizations from across Pennsylvania to rally for $28 million in additional funding for housing programs in the state budget. The groups want $15 million of that earmarked for state matching funds for county-run housing trust funds.

Errett said people with mental health problems and those coming out of drug and alcohol treatment programs and domestic violence centers face particular problems finding places they can afford the rent.

In his budget request, Gov. Tom Ridge has proposed using $30 million in welfare program savings for housing initiatives to reach the poorest families.

But the groups lobbying here as part of the Pennsylvania Low Income Housing Coalition say more is needed to help one million Pennsylvanians who live in substandard housing.