What would you do if you couldn’t afford your rent or pay your mortgage? If you opened the refrigerator and didn’t see much inside? Consider this: More of our neighbors and friends are in need as communities struggle to navigate an increasingly inequitable world. But instead of falling into despair, there are organizations around the region focused on tangible efforts to improve the quality of lives right in our own backyards. Whether it’s focusing on innovative solutions to the looming energy crisis brought on by climate change or working to solve widespread issues with affordable housing, leaders from across the region, backed by the support of The Pittsburgh Foundation, are working to bring more support to the people who need it the most.
Lena Andrews is the director of Real Estate Development, ACTION Housing
ACTION Housing, Bringing Affordable Housing to Pittsburgh
Did you know that there is nowhere in the United States where a full-time minimum wage worker can afford to rent a modest one-bedroom apartment? Right here in Pittsburgh, PA, approximately 48% of renter households spend more than 30% of their income toward housing, according to the City of Pittsburgh’s Housing Needs Assessment. “I think sometimes we downplay housing issues in Pittsburgh since people see us as an affordable place to live, but we are facing challenges here and it is indicative of what is going on nationally,” said Lena Andrews, CEO of ACTION Housing.
She shared that the main funding source for new affordable housing in the United States is the low income housing tax credit program, and the income limit on units produced through that program is usually 60% of area median income. For a household of one person, that’s $42,540 – so households who make less than this qualify for some form of subsidized affordable rental housing. “That’s about 40% of the City of Pittsburgh households. This is a crisis,” she said.
What ACTION Housing Does for Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh’s largest nonprofit developer, ACTION Housing, has been on the front lines of several housing initiatives to support affordable housing including the move to limit public viewing and reporting of eviction records as well as the legislative effort to increase the cap on the state fund to provide housing assistance.
Darrel Pullie, 20, has been a resident at My Place for a year. When family dynamics required him to find a place of his own, My Place provides him with a safe, secure and nurturing environment to build on his his life plans.
Andrews, who became CEO in October 2024, believes that while there are so many things that ACTION Housing does well, she recognizes that since Covid-19 hit, ACTION Housing has shifted to rental assistance and whole house repairs to help keep people in their homes. The Pittsburgh Foundation has been a critical funder of initiatives to prevent homelessness in the Pittsburgh region and a thought leader in this space, Lena noted. “They have supported our rental assistance work, our housing stabilization center, the RentHelpPGH program, and they convene the Eviction Prevention Roundtable, a group who meets regularly to strategize around funding and priorities. We can’t solve this alone. I love the multifaceted approach to addressing the housing issue,” she said.
Beyond Just Housing Prices
One approach is the new Flats on Forward in Squirrel Hill. Of the 43 newly affordable and beautiful apartments constructed, 25% of them will have a preference for people with disabilities.
Isis Cox, 24, and Stephanie Ochoa, 28, became best friends while living at My Place. Stephanie, 28, now works as a caseworker for Action Housing and Isis, as a receptionist.
And ACTION Housing doesn’t just develop properties. The organization owns 2,000 units that will be affordable because of its nonprofit status. Having social services for youth who are aging-out of foster care and are at risk for homelessness transition successfully into adulthood is also “super inspirational,” she says. And she wants people to understand that this is not a niche issue.
“These are just people. They are your neighbors, teachers … the barista down the block. This is a huge issue and everyone deserves a safe and affordable place to live.” Because of the support of organizations like the Pittsburgh Foundation, Andrews is confident that more can be accomplished when we work together to support one another.
Story by Natalie Bencivenga / With Support from The Pittsburgh Foundation / Photography by Jeff Swensen
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