Housing Block Grant Activity in Pittsburgh:

A Case Study

CED-82-52: Published: Mar 24, 1982. Publicly Released: Mar 24, 1982.

Additional Materials:

Contact:

Office of Public Affairs
(202) 512-4800
youngc1@gao.gov

Congress is currently considering various alternatives for administering federal housing subsidies. GAO studied the Community Development Block Grant Program activities of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to assist Congress by describing how cities and counties have used their block grant funds to provide and improve housing for low- and moderate-income families.

GAO found that Pittsburgh has rehabilitated a significant portion of its housing units using Community Development Block Grant funds. Grant funds were used primarily in providing direct loans to low- and moderate-income homeowners. However, private rental units and renters were less affected by Community Block Grant funds. In an attempt to reverse or stabilize a substantial population decline and to rehabilitate its aging housing stock, the city elected to use 56 percent of its Community Development Block Grant funds for housing-related activities. GAO found that the city used 19 different types of housing interventions. The major housing activity was the rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing, and the major subsidy mechanism was direct loans. The most costly intervention was the acquisition and rehabilitation of housing units by owner occupants or investors using loans. The least costly intervention was the rehabilitation of owner-occupied housing units using full grants. City officials were supportive of a move toward housing grants, but were concerned that considerable forethought should be given to the move from federal control to local control over housing activities.

Aug 13, 2020

Jul 29, 2020

Jul 27, 2020

Jun 26, 2020

Apr 30, 2020

Mar 17, 2020

Mar 3, 2020

Nov 20, 2019

Sep 25, 2019

Looking for more? Browse all our products here