Launch a public education campaign to share information with residents about programs that can help them stay in their homes

The Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) Save Your Home hotline through the Allegheny County Residential Mortgage Program assists homeowners facing mortgage foreclosure by connecting them to public and private sector entities.

In Progress

ACED has increased outreach and communications related to housing stabilization and preservation programs by:

• • Increasing digital marketing, engagement, and online presence
  • Attending and coordinating in-person events for residents and community members
  • Maintaining regular outreach with partner organizations

ACED will announce investments into home-accessibility and home-improvement programs in July 2025, and a new resource page for all home preservation/ stabilization programs will launch, in addition to new materials in partnership with Action Housing and other partners.

Launch a significant new program that will make hundreds of permanent, deeply affordable housing units available to people exiting homelessness

Expanding partnerships between the Department of Human Services (DHS), housing authorities, local developers, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and private landlords to increase affordable housing opportunities. The county will take the lead on bringing affordable housing resources together to leverage programs and funding to support people experiencing homelessness so that they can transition to safe, permanent, and affordable housing more quickly. DHS will create a supportive services program for those experiencing homelessness that will follow them to permanent housing, which should open the door for more developers and landlords to prioritize serving this population.

  Completed

As of June 30, 2025, at least 286 housing units have been created and 449 formerly unhoused people are now living in permanent, affordable homes.

Announced in June 2024, the 500 in 500 initiative is a collaborative effort by county and local government agencies, foundations, nonprofit organizations, the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, and regional landlords and developers all working together to move people from shelter into affordable housing. The “500 in 500” methodology includes identifying 500 affordable housing units within 500 days, and to make those units available for people living in shelters or who are unhoused.

Advocate for more tax credits for affordable housing developers and federal project-based vouchers for low-income families

The county will explore the creation of a Housing Advocacy Committee to continue to educate and advocate at the congressional level to secure additional housing vouchers for Allegheny County residents for whom existing affordability requirements are too high.

In Progress

In 2024, PA Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) awarded Low Income Housing Tax Credits (LIHTC) to eight  developments in the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. These tax credit awards offer the ability to add an additional 327 homes to the local affordable housing ecosystem.

Work with the County Council to explore zoning reforms

Exploring opportunities for adaptive reuse of under-utilized nursing homes and other structures for affordable housing.

In Progress

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) will launch the Allegheny County Comprehensive Plan in summer 2025. A library of zoning code text amendments will be developed and shared with County Council and municipalities. Both the Comprehensive Plan and the county’s development of a Climate Action Plan will support and encourage zoning updates and multi-municipal planning efforts.

Introduce and scale model zoning ordinances to support affordable housing development

Updated zoning ordinances will be adopted across the county to support the development of affordable housing in every municipality. These efforts are in partnership with Allegheny County InterCOG Council, a collaboration between all municipalities in Allegheny County.

In Progress

As part of the county’s update to the comprehensive plan, Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) will work to include model zoning ordinances as a resource for municipalities.

Support the development of affordable housing near public transit stations

In partnership with Pittsburgh Regional Transit (PRT) and the Transit Oriented Development Program, PRT is investing in real estate development projects near stations and creates opportunities to develop mixed-income housing.

In Progress

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) continues to work on land use, and transportation and mobility planning, in partnership with PRT. A portion of development activities include providing funding for local main street programs related to transit-oriented advancements.

Create a Housing Advisory Board in the Health Department

A Housing Advisory Board will guide countywide efforts to keep residents in safe, affordable homes, protect renters, and create pathways to homeownership.

  Completed

In December 2024, County Council officially approved the creation of the Housing and Community Environment Advisory Committee under the direction of the Allegheny County Board of Health (BOH), and approved the slate of appointees to serve on the committee.

As of March 2025, the committee has been officially seated and held two meetings to date. Those interested in monitoring the work and progress of the committee can find more information on the Housing and Community Environment Advisory Committee webpage.

Expand the Allegheny Lead-Safe Homes Program

The Allegheny Lead-Safe Program offers free lead-paint testing and hires a certified lead-abatement contractor to treat lead paint for low- to moderate-income residents with young children living in older buildings. The program currently serves about 40 homes per year, and the county will apply for federal grants to expand this program.

  Completed

Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) was awarded a grant for $7.75M.

The increased funding will enable ACED to expand the capacity of the Lead-Safe Homes Program and address and remediate lead concerns in an additional 175 homes across Allegheny County. ACED and the City of Pittsburgh provided a match of an additional $1.120M towards the program.

Provide legal assistance to residents at risk of eviction

By launching a “Lawyer of the Day” program, Allegheny County will provide low-income tenants at risk of eviction with free legal counsel, in two municipalities outside the City of Pittsburgh where residents are experiencing high rates of eviction.

In Progress

Funding for Neighborhood Legal Services has been secured for this fiscal year, and next, which will provide two dedicated attorneys to:

• • Focus on landlord/tenant hearings
  • Manage an eviction prevention legal hotline

Work with County Council to invest in targeted rental assistance in the next county budget

During the COVID-19 pandemic, the Emergency Rental Assistance Program provided over $150M directly to residents struggling with rent and utility costs. This helped 22,000 renters stay in their homes. Although the county cannot continue to operate rental assistance at this pandemic-necessitated scale, the Department of Human Services (DHS) continues to provide targeted support to help residents avoid eviction. The county will continue investing in these efforts to keep renters in the most need in their homes.

  Completed

Approved by County Council in December 2024, the county budget now includes a $14M investment in the eviction prevention ecosystem to provide rental support and invest in organizations who support tenants at risk of eviction.

Work with the County Council to establish a permanent Housing Opportunity Fund

Similar to the Housing Opportunity Fund managed by the City of Pittsburgh, this fund represents a significant, multi-year commitment to invest in strategies that can address the affordable housing crisis, such as down payment assistance for first-time low- and middle-income homeowners or support for small landlords.

In Progress

Approved by County Council in December 2024, the county budget includes a $7M investment into affordable housing production throughout Allegheny County. With this investemnt, in 2025 Allegheny County Economic Development (ACED) will pilot several new initiatives and partner County Council to establish these as permanent housing options moving forward.