SPONSORED BY COUNCILMAN R. DANIEL LAVELLE
Title
Resolution creating an Affordable Housing Task Force to assess the current and projected future landscape of housing affordability in the City of Pittsburgh, evaluate current programs and initiatives to produce new affordable units and preserve existing ones, and make recommendations to the Mayor and City Council to create new programs and initiatives and/or expand existing ones to promote mixed-income development in neighborhoods across the city and ensure a vibrant mix of housing options for people of all income levels.
Body
WHEREAS, the City is experiencing a severe shortage of both rental and for-sale housing that is affordable and available to very-low income (50% AMI) and extremely low-income (30% AMI) households; and
WHEREAS, the shortage of decent, safe, sanitary and affordable housing is causing tens of thousands of very-low income and extremely low-income households to pay over half of their income for housing costs. The severe cost burden faced by these households makes them vulnerable to health hazards, eviction/foreclosure, and homelessness; and
WHEREAS, much of Pittsburgh's existing affordable housing stock is both concentrated as well as oftentimes isolated in high-poverty/low-opportunity areas which have poor access to jobs, public transportation, and educational opportunities inadvertently perpetuating cycles of poverty; and
WHEREAS, affordable housing is one piece of a system of comprehensive housing policies and programs and must be considered as a part of, and integrated with, the whole in order to ensure feasibility and effectiveness;
WHEREAS, the City of Pittsburgh desires to significantly increase its population and grow its tax base in order to build a more resilient and vibrant city for decades to come; and
WHEREAS, while attracting new residents, the City of Pittsburgh also desires to retain existing residents and prevent potential displacement caused by rising ho...
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