Housing Opportunity Fund Meeting - 10/6/26

The Pittsburgh Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board met on October 6, 2026. The board approved authorization for a grant of up to $980,000 to East Liberty Development Incorporated, or a related entity, for its Larimer affordable homeownership project: six newly constructed homes and rehabilitation of two existing properties. Homes will be affordable to buyers at or below 80% of area median income, and one unit will be ADA-compliant. The project’s financing also includes support from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency, Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, First Commonwealth Bank, and the East End Housing Development Program. Tena Harris abstained; the board approved the motion.

The board also reviewed a draft 2027 Housing Opportunity Fund allocation plan, amid a preliminary mayoral budget proposal that could reimagine or eliminate the fund’s traditional $10 million allocation. Members discussed allocating available loan repayments and interest among housing programs, with priorities including rental development, homeownership assistance, housing stabilization, and home repair. The board approved the draft allocation plan for a 30-day public comment period, with plans to revisit and finalize it in November; the transcript does not clearly establish all final program-level amounts. The board deferred decisions on demonstration and innovation grants. No procurement bid or vendor-selection process was identified.