PHDA’s home ownership education is just one piece in the bigger puzzle of succeeding as a home owner and strengthening neighborhoods. The links and downloads below can give you valuable resources in related areas like community development, equity protection and foreclosure prevention, ADA compliance and retrofitting for physically challenged renters and homebuyers, and more.
The mission of the Allegheny County Housing Authority (ACHA) is to provide decent, safe and sanitary housing for eligible low-income families and senior citizens in Allegheny County. A major goal of the ACHA is to provide a product that is comparable to private non-assisted rental housing in terms of amenities and services. The ACHA strives to change the negative image of public housing by being creative in our thinking, promoting the positive aspects of public housing, involving residents in decisions that effect them, using innovative designs to change the traditional face of public housing, and implementing various programs that enable families to progress on the road to self sufficiency.
ACTION-Housing, Inc.
www.actionhousing.org
412.281.2102
Fees: None
Purpose: Conserve energy through insulation and other measures for low income home owners.
Allegheny County Department of Economical Development
http://www.alleghenycounty.us/economic-development/residents/ahilp/ahilp.aspx
412.350.1043; 412.350.1065
Fees: Loans at 1% interest or 0% in emergency situations
Purpose: Described as “the most affordable way for eligible Allegheny County residents to rehabilitate and improve their homes,” this low interest loan program is sponsored by the Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County and administered by Allegheny County Economic Development.
The region’s only financial institution to offer comprehensive in-house credit counseling and homebuyer education programs — in addition to all the banking services you’ll need to become a home owner. When you visit the site, go to the About Us page, then click on Community Development to see a list of helpful offerings.
FHLBank Pittsburgh provides readily available low-cost funding and opportunities for affordable housing and community development to 302 member financial institutions in Delaware, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. It ensures the availability of funds for housing and enhances the quality of the communities it serves.
A 501(c)(3) organization founded in 1989, Hosanna House has a multi-purpose community center that serves over 27,000 people a year, and a wide variety of services and programs for education, career development, permanent supportive housing, health and dental care, and more.
Hosanna Industries, Inc. is a faith-rooted, 501 (c)3 non-profit organization in southwestern Pennsylvania. The mission includes new construction and repair/rehabilitation services for low income homeowners; leading volunteers in disaster recovery; and training young people in the trade skills to give them a hope for the future.
Founded in 1985, this advocacy group’s mission is to ensure that all Pennsylvanians, especially those with low incomes, have access to safe, decent and affordable homes.
ACTION-Housing, Inc.
www.actionhousing.org
412.281.2102
Fees: None; grant program
Purpose: Funds housing modifications such as ramps and exterior lifts, door and hallway widening, kitchen, bathroom modifications, and other adaptive measures.
Striving to be “a bridge between private capital markets and low income neighborhoods,” LIIF provides capital and technical assistance to help low income communities finance and build facilities for education, affordable and supportive housing, child care and other community revitalization programs.
The country’s preeminent leader in affordable housing and community development, NeighborWorks America works to create opportunities for lower-income people to live in affordable homes in safe, sustainable neighborhoods that are healthy places for families to grow. They have an extensive number of programs and a local office in Pittsburgh.
Created to help enhance the quality and supply of affordable homes and apartments for older adults, persons of modest means, and persons with disabilities, the Agency operates home ownership programs, rental housing development initiatives, and foreclosure prevention staff and resources.
Recognized as one of the nation’s most innovative and effective nonprofit historic preservation organizations, PHLF works to: identify and save historically significant places; revitalize historic neighborhoods, towns, and urban areas; preserve historic farms and historic-designed landscapes; and educate people about the Pittsburgh region’s rich architectural heritage.
www.pittsburghproject.org
412.321.1678
Fees: Free for income-eligible home owners
Purpose: Volunteer work crews donate over 50,000 hours each year to provide free home repairs for home owners who are elderly, poor, shut-in, widowed, disabled, or immobile. Projects include exterior and interior painting, repairing damaged walls and ceilings, hanging drywall, installing new toilets, constructing wheelchair ramps, clearing debris, repointing loose bricks, fortifying retaining walls, replacing doors, floors, and windows, patching holes on rooftops, and many smaller jobs.
www.rtpittsburgh.org/
412.922.0953
Fees: Free for eligible low income home owners, particularly the elderly and disabled
Purpose: Volunteers offer repair, renovation and modifications services, including carpentry, plumbing, electrical, plastering, painting, concrete, weatherization, lock repair, safety modifications, trash removal and cleaning. The last Saturday in April every year is set aside for major renovations to homes throughout Allegheny County.
One of Wilkinsburg’s most established and diverse churches, St. Stephen’s is also home to the Neighborhood Youth Outreach Program, which provides a safe place, mentoring relationships, and personal growth support to at-risk youth in Wilkinsburg and nearby communities.
Produced in 2010 in collaboration with students from Carnegie Mellon University Heinz School of Public Affairs. Download PDF here.
www.wilkinsburgchristianhousing.org
Wilkinsburg Christian Housing is an affordable housing initiative of Covenant Fellowship Reformed Presbyterian Church. The organization's objectives are: To purchase abandoned properties and vacant lots; To restore abandoned buildings owned by WCH to a condition suitable for housing; To encourage and assist low to moderate income people to live in Wilkinsburg by making restored properties available to them for sale at reasonable prices; To seek and encourage the participation of other Christian churches in this ministry; To conduct activities that enhance and promote the community of Wilkinsburg, Pennsylvania.
Since 2006, this coalition of Wilkinsburg residents, business and property owners, county and state officials, and representatives from area nonprofits has met to fulfill the mission of revitalizing Wilkinsburg and surrounding areas through business and residential development, organizational and individual civic leadership, and cultural enrichment.
Formed in 1994, the Alliance includes diverse denominations and individuals of every race and age who work together to address community challenges.
“Wilkinsburg is fortunate to have PHDA and the Dollar Bank Home Buyer Program Workshop. It takes a lot of help to make sure that everyone has the knowledge and resources to become a home owner and this program continues to be of great value to our residents.”
Jason Cohn, Former President, Wilkinsburg Borough Council
May21, July 26, September 17
View September Event Flyer
Workshops will be held at Wilkinsburg Community Development Corp
729 Wood Street Wilkinsburg, 15221
6:00pm
To RSVP, please call 412.242.2700, email info@www.phdainc.org or fill out the form here.
Through this new and developing program, PHDA will work to increase affordable homeownership options by rehabilitating the existing housing stock in the Borough of Wilkinsburg, using energy-efficient building standards. Initial implementation of the program will focus on the Princeton Park Community, an area which Wilkinsburg has received County Funding for redevelopment in. Learn More
9807 Glendale Rd. Watch the Virtual Tour