$500,000 of the grant will close the funding gap needed for 120 Cecil Way –
PSH’s affordable housing development with Beacon Communities
Media Contact:
Gigi Saladna
media@pghscholarhouse.org
PITTSBURGH, PA (December 4, 2024) Pittsburgh Scholar House (PSH) announced today that it has secured $750,000 in grant funding from The Heinz Endowments for its Downtown affordable housing conversion and program expansion needs.
In August 2024, PSH announced its partnership with developer Beacon Communities to convert the empty building located at 120 Cecil Way in Downtown Pittsburgh into 98 units of mixed-income affordable housing, 49 of which will be dedicated to PSH Scholars and their families.* PSH had secured $2.5 million in grant funding but still needed $500,000 for the $3 million project. A portion of The Heinz Endowment grant will be used to close the funding gap.
“We are incredibly thankful to The Heinz Endowments for their generous support,” said Dr. Diamonte Walker, CEO of Pittsburgh Scholar House. “This grant will enable the completion of 120 Cecil Way, the adoption of the Strengthening Families 2-Gen Framework, and expands our ability to address critical challenges faced by single-parent students on their path to degree completion.”
PSH is dedicated to improving the quality of life for single parents and their children through post-secondary education and comprehensive supportive services, including housing. PSH’s Wayfinders Program is specifically tailored to mitigate barriers that would otherwise impede degree completion by providing stable and affordable housing matched with on-site support services.
“The Heinz Endowments is excited to continue our partnership with Pittsburgh Scholar House and to invest in parents on their path to higher education and meaningful careers,” said Carmen Anderson, vice president of Equity and Learning for the Endowments. “This helps set them – and their families – up for future success. We are grateful to Pittsburgh Scholar House for their efforts on the Cecil Way project, a welcome and valuable resource that helps shape the future of Downtown and make it a vibrant place for all to live, work, play, and learn.”
The 120 Cecil Way project involves the adaptive reuse and historic preservation of a decommissioned steam plant into approximately 98 new affordable housing units, with one-, two-, and three-bedroom units targeting households with incomes ranging from 20% – 80% of the Area Median Income, and a portion assisted with Section 8 rental subsidies.
The 49 apartments for Scholars and their families included in the project are part of the more than 100 affordable units PSH is working to bring online by 2028 with various development partnerships throughout the City of Pittsburgh.
Funding commitment is contingent upon Beacon Communities securing both historic and low-income housing tax credits. If awarded tax credits, Beacon Communities anticipates a groundbreaking in fall 2025, with an 18-month renovation period.
*Updated numbers as of December 3, 2024
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About Pittsburgh Scholar House:
Pittsburgh Scholar House is a pioneering nonprofit organization dedicated to building generational prosperity for single parents and their children through post-secondary education and housing support. By combining affordable housing with comprehensive support services, including academic advising, career counseling, and child development programs, PSH empowers families to build brighter economic futures. We are committed to fostering a community where education and housing stability can ensure long-term economic mobility and a higher quality of life for the families we serve. More information is available at www.pghscholarhouse.org.
The Heinz Endowments seeks to help our region thrive as a whole and just community and, through that work, to model solutions to major national and global challenges. We are devoted to advancing our vision of southwestern Pennsylvania as a vibrant center of creativity, learning, and social, economic, and environmental sustainability. Our work is supported by reliable data based on equitable, results-focused goals to cultivate a world where all are treated with fairness and respect and have the opportunity to reach their fullest potential.