Title
Resolution establishing the HELP Initiative to develop interim affordable housing strategies for the East End neighborhoods in the City of Pittsburgh at no cost to the City.
Body
WHEREAS, A City For All Agenda strives to make Pittsburgh a livable and affordable city for all residents; and
WHEREAS, A City For All Agenda includes affordable housing for all Pittsburgh families; and
WHEREAS, Development projects are coming online and being planned with no affordable housing components; and,
WHEREAS, People are being forced out of the City because they cannot afford to live here anymore; and,
WHEREAS, The redevelopment of East Liberty’s Penn Plaza Apartments and the lack of affordable housing in the East End have combined to displace its residents; and,
WHEREAS, Immediate action is needed to address the affordability crisis in the East End; and,
WHEREAS, Each neighborhood in the East End has unique socioeconomic and demographic conditions; and,
WHEREAS, Solutions must be tailored to each community; and,
WHEREAS, The City must address the East End’s affordability crisis right now.
Be it resolved that the Council of the City of Pittsburgh hereby enacts as follows:
Section 1: City Council hereby establishes the Homewood, East Hills, East Liberty, Larimer and Lincoln-Lemington-Belmar Protection Initiative (HELP), an East End multi-neighborhood affordable housing protection strategy that will capitalize on the strengths and the opportunities of the East End Market.
Section 2: The Help Initiative’s overall goals are:
1. Preserve and increase affordable housing choices;
2. Develop diverse, mixed-income, sustainable communities;
Section 3: The HELP Initiative will achieve these goals by creating and implementing community-specific strategies and solutions including:
1. Establish a process of housing protection for low- and moderate income families living in the City’s East End neighborhoods;
2. Facilitate a public/private working group for the creation and implementation of East End affordable housing strategies;
3. Coordinate a technical assistance process utilizing best practices;
4. Establish overall community goals including affordable housing ratios;
5. Assist in securing available financing to implement strategies;
6. Monitor the affordable housing strategy for the East End
Section 4: The Help Initiative shall consist of the member of Council who represents the targeted neighborhoods and at a minimum, the following members:
1. Representatives from community-development organizations;
2. A representative from the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh;
3. A representative from the Affordable Housing Task Force;
4. Representatives from organized labor;
5. A representative from the Department of City Planning
Section 5: The HELP Initiative’s initial document and semi-annual progress reports shall be filed with the City Clerk and with the City’s Affordable Housing Task Force.