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WHEREAS, affordable housing is one of Pittsburgh's greatest needs, and;
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WHEREAS, in October of 2021, Pittsburgh City Council passed a resolution declaring that housing is a human right, and;
WHEREAS, the 2022 City of Pittsburgh Affordable Housing Needs Assessment reported that there is a shortage of over 11,000 housing units affordable to households at 50% of the city's median income, and;
WHEREAS, according to the 2020 Census, The City of Pittsburgh's population has been in decline since 2000 with its population decreasing 0.89% over the last decade and 13.4% of Black residents leaving the city, and;
WHEREAS, advocates attribute this drop in population to a lack of quality, affordable housing within the City of Pittsburgh, and;
WHEREAS, one-third of Pittsburgh residents spend more than 30% of their income on housing, which is considered cost-burdened; increasing the likelihood that these households may have difficulty paying for other necessities, such as food, transportation, or health care, and;
WHEREAS, Pittsburgh City Council declared homelessness a public health emergency due in large part to a lack of affordable, safe housing in the City, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has taken steps to explore various solutions to this affordable housing crisis, including Limited Equity Housing Cooperatives and Accessory Dwelling Units, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh has established the Inclusionary Zoning Overlay District to ensure new developments in several City neighborhoods experiencing hyper-investment and gentrification will have some direct benefit for those struggling to find affordable housing, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh established the Housing Opportunity Fund, pledging $10,000,000 annually for the creation and preservation of affordable housing opportunities, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh welcomes the recent federal grant of $50,000,000 under HUD's Choice Neighborhoods program, as well as CDBG funding and ot...
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