Housing is a Human Right

Mark Masterson: How much longer does Pittsburgh have to wait for inclusionary zoning? Ten years ago, in June 2015, the city of Pittsburgh’s first ever Affordable Housing Task Force met for the first time. I was one member of the Task Force, along with members of City Council and ...

“IZ is particularly well-suited for sharing the benefits of Pittsburgh’s growth with everyone, producing new affordable housing in high-opportunity neighborhoods and building workforce housing close to jobs.” triblive.com/opinion/mark...

YIMBYs want more housing, but their methods have divided Pittsburgh leaders “The NIMBY-YIMBY debate is a national one, but it plays out in ... local zoning decisions..."

www.pghcitypaper.com/news/yimbys-...

Trump turns homelessness response away from housing, toward forced treatment The Trump administration is moving to end the "Housing First" approach despite warnings from providers and homelessness experts that the shift won't work.

This harsh pivot toward austerity and punishment is not only deeply misinformed and flagrantly cruel, it will undoubtedly exacerbate the crisis of housing instability in this country and supercharge its negative impacts on people’s mental and physical health.
www.cbsnews.com/news/trump-h...

The 2025 Pittsburgh Housing Justice Summit is right around the corner! Don’t forget to register at bit.ly/fairhousing2025 and help spread the word! This event will feature tenant organizers, city and county officials, policy experts, impacted residents, and more.

As DOGE Mauls Social Security, Profit-Hungry Private Equity Is Swooping In Three private equity veterans are weaseling their way in, reportedly on the orders of the presumptive SSA commissioner.

“A rapacious and ethics-optional seeker of profit above all, private equity can seem like one of the purest distillations of the inhumane logic of capital.”

truthout.org/articles/as-...

PGH Biz Times reports the redevelopment of the May Building into apartments downtown may be jeopardized by the Trump admin’s cuts to HUD

Have to hop off the call. Recording should be available soon

Dalton says there are a couple hundred thousand people who are housing unstable in the County, including people who are doubled up. Says efforts to make sure people’s basic needs are met plays an important role in stabilization

Man-E says meeting and working with Erin Dalton to address the encampments on the jail trail changed his perception of DHS. Felt that they listened

Says there are surveys, focus groups, etc. Many providers have lived experience, but there’s room to improve

Dalton says there are good processes in place that ensure voices of people with lived experience are sought out and incorporated in planning, implementation, and review of services. They have heard people don’t want more shelters.

Man-E: what is DHS doing to ensure the voices of people who are impacted by this issue inform services?

Some discussion of the Point in Time Count and efforts to improve the accuracy of data around how many people are actually experiencing unsheltered homelessness

Says that she is being “rightly criticized” for prioritizing people in encampments who tend to be more white than “some other groups.” Didn’t specify who is making this critique or what other groups should be prioritized for housing.

Dalton says the County uses a data driven approach, and that they are seeing that Black and African American people often have more vulnerabilities in their histories that make them eligible for services.

Man-E asks what is the County doing to address racial disparities?

Man-E: Black and African American people make up just 13% of the County, but over 65% of the people in jail. Dalton notes over half of people in shelter are POC.

Says they are working to develop a portal to list all housing available to improve efficiency in matching people in need of housing with available units

Crisis mental health services are importantly to respond to people who may be struggling in shelters - particularly people with developmental disabilities and older adults

Still, Dalton says we don’t have enough housing specifically catered to very low-income people, recovery housing, people with disabilities, people leaving the jail, etc.

Erin Dalton says the County is on track and determined to meet the Innamorato admin’s 500 in 500 goal to house people

Man-E says to property owners: take the vouchers! These Housing Choice Vouchers (or sometimes called Section 8 Vouchers) can benefit people in need of housing and people renting housing.

Says DHS wants to collaborate with property owners to house folks. There’s a portal they can use to list units, and DHS will match clients with them.

Dalton notes that HUD does not really incentivize these creative solutions like Host Homes / Home Sharing, but she is interested in increasing local capacity to support these kinds of community solutions.

Investments are being made in Rapid Rehousing, Behavioral Health Housing, Housing Vouchers, and creative solutions like Home Sharing.

Erin Dalton replies supportive housing is essential. The model is housing + supportive services. It’s about community and work too. Everyone wants to have community and productive ways to spend their days.

Man-E asks “What is the County doing to improve housing options for folks?”

Says DHS can handle some cuts at the federal level, but major cuts could impact services. Says she is hopeful that pushback to such an effort would be swift and effective bc these services are so critical to so many people.

Erin says there has been a positive shift recently to collaboration between DHS and community groups to ensure people asked to vacate encampments are linked to real housing options - acknowledges still lots of problems and room to improve.

DHS has a 3 pronged approach to housing and homelessness: prevention, shelter, and housing. Field a lot of calls via 211 and Allegheny Link hotlines to try and avert crises and meet needs.