City of Pittsburgh Announces 11 Affordable Housing Projects to Receive Over $15 Million in Funding

Awarded under the Housing Options Grant Program, the funding will go towards the preservation and new construction of 579 affordable rental units

PITTSBURGH – The City of Pittsburgh has announced that 11 affordable housing projects in the city will receive more than $15 million in state funding. The move comes as the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) released the second round of Housing Option Grant Program awards, which will provide $98 Million in total to fund emergency repair, preservation, and new construction of 3,377 affordable units across the entire state.

“I want to thank Director Wiessmann and her team at PHFA for investing in these projects in our city.  This funding puts us another step closer to ensuring that every resident has a place to call home. That is a basic human necessity that everyone deserves. Together we can combat the housing crisis, as we strive towards our vision of creating a place where every resident can feel safe and thrive,” said Mayor Ed Gainey. “I would also like to thank Senator Costa, Senator Fontana, and the entire state delegation for their partnership and advocacy in securing this funding for our neighborhoods. The number of awards and amount of funding Pittsburgh is receiving is a testament to our partnership with the state, our consistent advocacy and engagement with them, and the trust they have in our team and local partners.”

The Gainey Administration has been committed to finding solutions to alleviate the strain of the affordable housing crisis in Pittsburgh. The $15,007,707 in funding will support the preservation and new construction of 579 affordable housing units in the City of Pittsburgh. The projects that will be supported include:

• African Queens Apartments for the new construction of 9 Units
• Homewood Affordable Housing Construction for the new construction of 37 Units
• Allegheny YMCA Renovation for the preservation of 88 units
• Hazelwood 2023 for the preservation of 9 Units
• Hazelwood Affordable Rental Preservation Program (HARPP):  Stabilization Initiative | for the preservation of 61 Units
• Homewood Housing Rehabilitation for the preservation of 17 Units
• Independent Housing Resources East for the preservation of 24 Units
• Light of Life Sister’s Recovery House for the preservation of 22 Units
• Pennley Commons Recapitalization for the preservation of 38 Units
• The Residences at Wood Street/ Wood Street Commons Investment Project for the preservation of 250 Units
• Widows Home for the preservation of 24 Units

The Housing Options Grant Program represents a new affordable housing development tool for PHFA that makes money available to create or preserve more affordable rental housing in Pennsylvania. Resources for the program come from the American Rescue Plan Act and were funded in the 2022-23 state budget. 

"We are deeply thankful to PHFA for their generous and transformative investment in the city of Pittsburgh. This award is not just a financial boost; it's a testament to the power of collaboration in creating positive change. Our partnership with PHFA has been instrumental in our mission to revitalize and enhance our urban landscape. We are truly excited about the opportunities that lie ahead as we leverage the nearly $9 million in local ARPA funding through our own Housing Preservation Program to fuel our ongoing projects. Together, we will continue to make a meaningful impact," Susheela Nemani-Stanger, Executive Director of the URA.

The projects to receive the grant funding are those that have not already received Low Income Housing Tax Credit funding, or that do not anticipate receiving LIHTC funding over the next four years.

Read Mayor's Office Release