by Rich Lord
The Redevelopment Authority of Allegheny County [RAAC] board voted to lend $5 million to ACTION-Housing to get a rent relief program off the ground.
The loan is meant to allow nonprofit ACTION-Housing to start making rental payments for families affected by the COVID-19 pandemic and its economic ramifications, and will be paid back to the authority, by the county, via funds the county has been pledged from the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security [CARES] Act, said county development Director Lance Chimka.
“There are people in need, and we want to offer housing stability to households at this time,” Chimka told the RAAC “We really want to start to get money out the door” as the $600 federal enhancement to weekly unemployment compensation is set to expire in coming days.
Bonuses offered to landlords who join “Section 8”
Amid concerns that the pandemic is going to worsen the city’s already acute need for affordable housing, the board of the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh voted to offer landlords $500 to $1,000 per unit that they bring on to the Housing Choice Voucher program, commonly known as Section 8.
The HCV program provides housing for lower-income families, who pay 30% of their incomes in rent, with the rest covered by the housing authorities. The authority has long had a waiting list for vouchers, amid concerns that it has used voucher money for development. Authority officials have said they have had difficulty attracting new landlords to the program.
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Develop PGH Bulletins: Allegheny County speeds rental aid; city plans bonuses to landlords
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