Pittsburgh City Council

The city releases its plans for block grant money.

Written by Amy Whipple

A bevy of social service and community groups across the city are set to receive more than $4 million from the city’s Community Development Block Grant funding.

Neither the legislation nor council discussion included when these funds will be released after a final vote next week.

Grants for the Neighborhood Economic Development program are slated to supply $720,000 in funding for 18 neighborhood organizations across the city.

The mayor’s office has a $100,000 allocation that is planned to go to 10 organizations including The Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh, the women’s shelter, and the emergency nursery Jeremiah’s Place. City council has a separate $450,000 allocation it has planned to distribute to 40 community organizations.

The Greater Pittsburgh Community Food bank is slated to receive $200,000. The money, however, will not be distributed before the funding for the Federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program expires on Nov. 1.

The remaining money has been designated for housing services. The Jewish Healthcare Foundation will receive $1.4 million to continue Housing and Urban Development-initiated services to people with HIV/AIDS. Another nearly $1.8 million will be distributed across seven organizations to provide emergency shelter services, street outreach services and rental assistance, among others. The final $100,000 will go to the Urban League of Pittsburgh for its housing counseling program.

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