Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato on Thursday signed an executive order creating a new housing strategy, including a fund aimed at investing in affordable and workforce housing.
Dubbed HOUSING for All, the order directs county agencies to work with nonprofit, municipal and private partners to “address the full spectrum of housing needs.” The order’s name is an acronym for “Housing Outcomes through Unified Strategies, Investment and Governance.”
“Creating more affordable housing and housing options across the board is a top priority for my administration,” Innamorato said in a statement. “Strong communities start with stable housing, and we’re working across every department and function of county government to deliver on a unified, long-term housing strategy.”
As part of the effort, Innamorato set a goal of raising $50 million to $100 million for the Housing Investment Fund. It will pool public and private money to support mixed-income development and housing for low-income and workforce residents.
The effort also orders the county to undertake a Housing Needs Assessment “to precisely quantify housing shortages by income level, geography, and household size, and identify barriers to housing production.” Other elements of the initiative include expanding efforts to convert vacant properties into housing and supporting municipal efforts to modernize zoning.
Innamorato also plans to sustain existing housing programs like her 500 in 500 initiative, which aimed to create 500 new affordable housing units in 500 days. The county executive declared that mission a success in October, after the effort had moved 622 people from streets and shelters into affordable housing.
County officials in a Thursday news release also highlighted a recent effort that helped 56 first-time homebuyers purchase houses by providing closing cost assistance.
Lena Andrews, CEO of Action-Housing, praised Innamorato for “leadership around affordable housing (that) has delivered real, meaningful results for the residents of Allegheny County.” She called the executive order “another crucial step in building a strong foundation for the county’s future.”
