The Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh (HACP) is working to improve outcomes for residents in need of housing and social services. To support this effort, the agency recruited FUSE executive fellow Della Williams, who helped the city expand and improve wraparound support to Pittsburghers in need of housing.
Della conducted a comprehensive literature review and listening tour, in which she interviewed HACP leadership and staff, co-workers from other government agencies, nonprofit leaders, and residents. She also benchmarked HACP’s services against those of other housing authorities involved in the “Moving to Work” initiative, a project of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development that empowers local housing authorities to design and test placed- based strategies. Based on this research, Della recommended a set of internal reforms aimed at improving the quality, delivery, and breadth of services offered by HACP. Her recommendations emphasized the need for strong community collaboration in order to enhance and expand the range of resources available to residents, including developing partnerships within the education, health, workforce development, and other sectors. This integrated approach helps clear the path toward greater stability, security, and upward mobility for some of Pittsburgh’s most vulnerable residents.
