Pittsburgh allocates $3 million in federal funding for covid-19 relief programs

Five Pittsburgh-area programs will benefit from more than $3 million from previously-approved federal coronavirus relief legislation, Mayor Bill Peduto’s administration announced Tuesday.

The bulk of the money, $2 million, will go to the Urban Redevelopment Authority for rental assistance under the URA’s Housing Stabilization Program.

About 1,000 households have been helped thus far this year through the program, URA spokeswoman Gigi Saladna said.

The program provides one-time support to help families catch up on past-due rent, provide first/last months rent and/or security deposits or catch up on back utility bills.

It is open to Pittsburgh residents who meet income requirements, which are based on earning 50% or less of the area’s mean income. For a family of four, the maximum annual income is $41,400 to be eligible for help for renters or $61,400 for homeowners.

“As winter approaches and our covid-driven housing crisis continues to put a strain on many budgets, we believe we have funding to help nearly 2,000 households,” Saladna said.

For more information about the program, call 2-1-1.

Four other programs also received funding: $300,000 to 412 Food Rescue; about $280,000 each to the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank and Jewish Family and Community Services Food Pantry; and $250,000 to Bryn Mawr/East Hills Affordable Housing Preservation.

“This money from the city is going to really help us help people in the community from slipping through the cracks,” Jordan Golin, president and CEO of Jewish Family and Community Services said. “It will help a tremendous amount.”

JFCS has focused on helping people navigate the challenges wrought by the coronavirus pandemic since March, Golin said.

Many of those who need help are people who haven’t needed to use social services before and JFCS has worked to help them, he said.

The need is “huge,” Golin said, and it’s not ending any time soon.

“Everyone knows the number of layoffs that have taken place since March,” Golin said. “So many people are in incredible need.”

Leah Lizarondo, founder and CEO of 412 Food Rescue echoed Golin’s sentiments.

“412 Food Rescue has been working overtime this year,” Lizarondo said.

Prior to the pandemic, about 1 in 9 people were “food insecure,” meaning they didn’t know where their next meals were coming from, she said. That’s now increased to about 1 in 4 or 5 people, she said.

“I think it’s definitely something that is much needed now,” Lizarondo said of the funding.

The money was allocated under the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security (CARES) Act.