[{"_1":2,"_98":-5,"_99":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6373523,"mediaKeyId","2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1","parentId",2145803,"title","HOF reports 2024 spending concentrated on rental programs; $650,000 identified for demo dollars","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",4763000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1&start=4763&end=4763","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1/thumbnail_4763000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6373523/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/HOF-reports-2024-spending-concentrated-on-rental-programs-650000-identified-for-demo-dollars","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373523-5213c0333e0ab661f576a85814ca1124/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184366&Signature=UTN3jxan8XrpvJb1ac0cxuqnNV-8~suRq0w3GAne5kZCfN4pwtqcga9O8Nc4yaXlAY57OwRoSXCB1Mdnt2DyfZlRatftFeln5r5gxsAlat~NLAe9d1qhv~vqm6J8xkq~jNK3r5yhHMQOFnD16YsKbeVZPx-ZPpCwXZOFTrLWyQPTAlwqNvBJCrPwXy5z4wzEqc0SurxtyWjit3Z0-yIQfOaUe3rRPZlZu0pkUq-jyoFYwJ-DQmIEX9aN8oNicbpk391s6OC0haL0mY6uu6hkfXNpcFyoe7t~muGAQjIGu0HqQ6BsG4qgY1C3bWlCbrHm5CW3gb1zyZii4B6YIi-nnw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pittsburgh City, PA","date","2025-01-07T00:00:00Z","article","URA staff presented the Housing Opportunity Fund's year-end activity and current balances on Jan. 7, showing that 2024 spending concentrated on renter-focused programs and that roughly $650,000 is available for demonstration-dollar planning across years.

Eric (URA staff) and other staff reported 2024 program expenditures and noted that some dollars showing as 2024 spending may include prior-year funds spent down during the year. Reported figures for program expenditures in 2024 included: rental gap at more than $3,000,000; the housing stabilization program at about $2,200,000 (adjusted); homeowner assistance and legal assistance both at over $1,400,000; for-sale development about $384,000; down payment and closing costs assistance about $586,000; and the small landlord fund near $60,000.

Separately, staff identified $350,000 unspent from 2024 demonstration allocations and a $300,000 2025 allocation, for a combined $650,000 available for demonstration purposes. Staff cautioned that some spending labeled as 2024 may come from earlier allocations that were expended during the year. The URA also said staff will continue to use URA expertise to screen applications and return a smaller set of vetted proposals for advisory review.

The advisory asked staff to improve outreach and clarity around how funds are used; staff agreed and said it will provide clearer delineation of allocations, commitments and balances in future updates.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Housing Opportunity Fund Meeting - 1/7/25","oneSentenceSummary","URA staff presented 2024 expenditures and noted that $350,000 of demonstration funds remain unspent from 2024 plus a $300,000 2025 allocation, creating a $650,000 pool. Most 2024 spending was on rental gap and stabilization programs.","taxTitle","Pittsburgh, Allegheny County, Pennsylvania","taxId",2965,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6373528,"HOF advisory proposes split approach for demonstration dollars, forms ad hoc group to define criteria",3350,1336000,4686000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1&start=1336&end=4686","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1/thumbnail_1336000.jpg","/articles/6373528/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/HOF-advisory-proposes-split-approach-for-demonstration-dollars-forms-ad-hoc-group-to-define-criteria","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373528-0ef5b1e8cd34a57b950b34fa4928840a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184366&Signature=DpUgdpJvr3uOnvtmICGd0Y2HlpukYM~iW2zFXIRwNnJkBKIISfDhY1j2FSW-6NgiibcUef8ADimI1l7yQE66lZx1wgS0mbetpVBWETIIDvtNvXIuoWeF7il5P7QVzHLLtciW1rhwZ82FrIU57nwbkZsgyrw9MjOMXLeJ0qNARjv1QOPB~gLAgxHmum5n6a2ydNIqLe1nCg-Cdt2X05~Q7WG4kzilTDubJ1p4jPCfUCuMNRu~6SqA~rxc2xAu9Wm0xlrkEiDJLVKJ2xqUGZOLcUXF80Cs3joys8JrR374hU9mLAxn0ReFcTtP1y3Z9-Dd0mBePX~kteoBjxHJ8GcOYw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Jan. 7 the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board spent its longest agenda block discussing how to allocate roughly $650,000 in demonstration dollars. Members favored splitting funds between larger, theme-based pilot grants and a smaller pool reserved for emergent or urgent needs; they asked staff to use a more robust application for pilots and a streamlined, rolling form for emergencies.

Eric (last name not provided), URA staff, showed a draft JotForm application with an accessibility audit and a 30-point scoring rubric. He said he had \"made a few edits specifically around accessibility\" and added a scoring system that would be partially auto-calculated and partially reviewed manually. Eric asked the advisory how much of each application packet the board wanted to review. Several advisory members said they prefer fewer, larger awards and more narrative context from staff rather than reviewing dozens of full packets.

Board members recommended two principal tracks: an innovation/pilot track with two application cycles per year and larger award amounts, and an emergent/urgent track with a rolling application for time-sensitive needs. The chair offered a straw man to split funding between innovation and emergencies with two cycles for innovation and rolling review for emergencies; members discussed splits ranging from 70/30 to 65/35 (innovation/emergent) and settled on continuing discussion but agreed to keep both tracks in the model.

The group agreed to form a small ad hoc committee, convened by Tanika Harris, to draft definitions and criteria for \"innovation\" and \"emergent\" requests and to bring those definitions back to the full advisory before the February meeting. Eric agreed to circulate the JotForm draft to advisory members for written feedback; URA staff will continue preliminary vetting of applications and provide summarized materials to the advisory prior to deliberations.

Members emphasized preserving flexibility for urgent local needs (for example, housing disruptions after fires) while prioritizing substantial, scalable pilot investments. The advisory signaled it will rely on URA staff for initial screening and bring a smaller set of vetted applications to the board for deeper qualitative review.","Advisory members favored a two-track approach—larger, theme-based pilot grants on a twice-yearly schedule and a rolling emergency/urgent fund— and agreed to form a small group to define \"innovation\" and \"emergent\" criteria. URA staff will refine the application and continue vetting applicants.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6373533,"Housing Opportunity Fund advisory approves HAP as grant with 10-year deed restriction",1046,263000,1309000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1&start=263&end=1309","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2145803-391144cf4d2ec0e5f76539dada34b3b1/thumbnail_263000.jpg","/articles/6373533/Pittsburgh/Allegheny-County/Pennsylvania/Housing-Opportunity-Fund-advisory-approves-HAP-as-grant-with-10-year-deed-restriction","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6373533-20e668e1fc5e229f8bcb325ec4a869cc/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184366&Signature=mmmg4C~f3R0veDD9cnCqCQHveJMwBJj9k8Ux6q4t6Fl~GfMp55BpDIvDHOtFqmNNG9HD63yQyu5qWokagsMWBzKO-gU2TuwNueOhE7gnc~g-NhNwGPaPfNCVJwlbqqKFPyfa5B8m8T0382de5UoDgLIOntoV2h03Hbx26rZkpmbpeHBZhmoumm8NujNn4WpeqBfHQOTK2~g6SdGVzqpzCKP8dMhSY~6bPGRgKwRCzEQExBHyXYmw574gjW57r9p3DL1KKtv1rF10IQZ7jefe7FOwjNEoPyJepq3teTTvkzSVeXNXthsOgJZWrwCyLJMkWCvSplHwjxQ~Ysi328~uoQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","On Jan. 7 the Housing Opportunity Fund Advisory Board voted to make the Homeowner Assistance Program (HAP) pilot an outright grant with a 10-year deed restriction. The motion passed after discussion about administrative burden and homeowner equity; board member Alan Sisco moved the motion and Tanika Harris seconded it.

Kiana Wasler, chief housing officer of the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA), told the advisory that the HAP guideline revisions are in a 30-day public comment period and that \"the goal is for the URA board to take a final vote on the HAP guidelines at their at our February 13th board meeting, and we would like to open the HAP round, which is a pilot round with Action Housing, as a nice Valentine's Day present to the city of Pittsburgh residents on February 14th.\" The board approved the grant structure for the pilot while retaining a 10-year restrictive covenant on properties that receive funds.

Board members debated technical differences between a grant with deed restrictions and a forgivable loan. Kiana Wasler explained the main administrative contrast: a loan would appear as a mortgage on title and could require URA approval for future refinancing, while a grant would not create a mortgage but would carry a deed restriction that requires resale to an income-qualified buyer if sold during the restriction period. As Wasler summarized, the grant approach \"doesn't kinda tie up the homeowner homeowner's equity in the home and allows them to, you know, as more freedoms in the future if need be.\" Board members repeatedly cited administrative burden as a factor favoring a grant for the pilot.

The advisory recorded one named abstention during the vote. The motion was moved by Alan Sisco and seconded by Tanika Harris and was announced as carried by the chair, Adrianne WannaHawk.

The advisory also discussed implementation considerations: the pilot will be administered with a partner agency (Action Housing) and will require agreements with homeowners and contractors; a deed-restrictive covenant will be filed so the URA is notified if a covered property is sold within 10 years. Staff said the deed restriction is enforced when title work or a sale triggers notification (typically via title company, real estate agent or property owner). The URA indicated that it prefers a grant structure for easier administration during the pilot, while acknowledging longer-term trade-offs for fund recapture and program sustainability.

Next steps: the URA staff will finalize guideline language through the public comment period, present final guidelines to the URA board on Feb. 13, and, if approved, open the pilot jointly with Action Housing on Feb. 14.","The advisory board voted to make the Homeowner Assistance Program a grant with a 10-year deed restriction for the pilot round; the URA board is scheduled to take a final vote Feb. 13 and staff hopes to open the pilot with partner Action Housing on Feb. 14.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

HOF reports 2024 spending concentrated on rental programs; $650,000 identified for demo dollars

HOF advisory proposes split approach for demonstration dollars, forms ad hoc group to define criteria

Housing Opportunity Fund advisory approves HAP as grant with 10-year deed restriction