Behind on Your Rent? HACP Has a Number of Eviction Prevention Methods in Place For Residents

The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) understands that residents may fall on hard times, which could prevent them from paying their rent on time.

Did you know HACP has a number of eviction prevention programs in place that provide rental assistance to qualifying applicants? Affordable repayment agreements are also available for residents who do not qualify for assistance.

Anthony Ceoffe, HACP's Senior Director of Asset Management, said rental assistance is available through partnerships with Just Mediation Pittsburgh and Rent Help Pittsburgh. Another crucial partnership with Ursuline Support Services provides HACP residents with eviction prevention coordinators who connect residents with rental assistance resources, budget counseling and financial literacy education. Ursuline also manages an internal rental assistance program for qualified families.

According to Ceoffe, the HACP filed 17 evictions in 2023, which represents less than 1% of the total number of families in the Low-Income Public Housing program. These evictions were due to social and public safety issues, and were not regarding past-due rent. The HACP also completed 312 mediations and distributed $589,435.15 in rental assistance payments through the mediation process in 2023, Ceoffe said.

Devin Shirey, asset management and homeownership administrative coordinator, CAPM, said any resident in HACP's Low-Income Public Housing units with a past-due balance of at least 30 days can qualify for assistance through a number of programs, such as the Family Eviction Prevention Program, the Homeless Assistance Program and Family Rental Assistance (for families with children under age 18). Funding through ACTION-Housing is based on your current rent amount. Shirey added repayment agreement plans for those who do not qualify for assistance are based on 40% of your gross monthly income.

Residents in need of eviction prevention and mediation assistance can seek help from their site manager, who can point them to the Ursuline Eviction Prevention Coordinator assigned to their area. Ursuline Eviction Prevention Coordinators have regular office hours at Bedford Dwellings in the Hill District, Allegheny Dwellings and Northview Heights in the North Side and Homewood North in Homewood.

A similar program, the Senior Living Enhancement Program, has been in place for many years to assist senior citizen residents and persons with disabilities in our high rise communities. Ceoffe stressed if an eviction notice is filed, that does not necessarily mean a resident will be evicted - but it does mean that action is required on the part of the resident.

"A lease termination notice for unpaid rent does not guarantee that an eviction will occur or that a complaint will be filed in court," he said. "The notice gives residents the opportunity to connect with the HACP and work collaboratively to identify opportunities to address the past due balance, either through access to rental assistance, entering an affordable repayment plan, or connecting residents with the folks that can provide additional resources to keep them and their family in their home."

The HACP launched an eviction prevention pilot program in 2019 at Homewood North, and opted to expand it to other communities based on its success.

"We have created a really robust partnership with Ursuline Support Services, Just Mediation Pittsburgh and Rent Help Pittsburgh, which has resulted in over $2 million in rental support for our residents and kept hundreds of families in their homes with the financial assistance provided," Ceoffe said. "This is truly a testament to the commitment of our staff, partners and residents. I think we have seen phenomenal success implementing eviction prevention strategies, and we've demonstrated the HACP's commitment to reducing evictions related to financial hardships.

Residents are also encouraged to take advantage of HACP's Family Self-Sufficiency and Resident Self-Sufficiency programs, which include employment services, driver's license assistance and education, that help residents achieve successes they are striving for, according to Ceoffe. Once plans are in place, the coordinators work with residents to make sure they stay on target with payments.

Michelle Sandidge, HACP's Chief Community Affairs Officer, noted that the HACP manages more than 2,500 units of public housing across the City of Pittsburgh, and is actively doing everything it can to prevent evictions. It has significantly expanded eviction prevention efforts in response to economic hardships exacerbated by COVID-19 and the homelessness crisis that is currently impacting the city.

"We are in the business of providing housing," she said. "Evicting people is just adding to the homeless population, and that's not what we want to do. We want to make our properties affordable for our residents, let them know the importance of paying your rent and have the mechanisms in place that allow us to do what we do best, and that's providing housing."

The HACP continues to expand its footprint in an effort to increase its public housing offerings. In 2023, the organization acquired 23 new units, and is investing in ongoing redevelopment endeavors across its communities.

Our executive staff also participates in a county-wide eviction prevention cohort made up of partners with The Pittsburgh Foundation, the Department of Human Services, the Allegheny County Housing Authority and court system representatives, among others, to continue to create opportunities for residents to avoid eviction, Sandidge noted.

"The Housing Authority is here to help. We have committed to working closely with our residents to assist them as needed with eviction prevention. If they are experiencing difficulties, they should immediately reach out to their site manager or eviction prevention coordinator so they can match them with available resources or work with them to establish an affordable repayment plan," added Ceoffe.

Requests for assistance may also be submitted by emailing: [email protected].

For more information, visit: https://hacp.org/rent-resources/.