Bartlett Housing Solutions will use a $700,000 grant from the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh to help address one of the fastest growing demographics among the area’s homeless population — families with young children.
Keri DeMasi, CEO and director of Bartlett Housing Solutions, said the agency hopes to have a new building with four, three-bedroom apartments built on its West Run campus and ready for tenants by summer’s end.
Bartlett Housing Solutions teamed up with longtime partner Clear Mountain Bank, which sponsored the application — one of 64 selected out of 165 requests to the federal bank’s affordable housing program.
DeMasi said families struggle to find multi-bedroom housing that is affordable and eligible under rental subsidy program guidelines. Even when housing is secured, she added, there are often issues with transportation and childcare for those not working day shifts through the week.
“So this housing would aim to provide non-traditional child care services outside of that 9-5 window, as well as transportation to and from employment,” she said.
The project will include a modular building to be constructed by Paradise Homes, as well as a playground, a fenced-in yard for pets and a community garden.
DeMasi said she’s excited about the new facility and grateful to Clear Mountain Bank for its continued support as well as the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh for recognizing the need for affordable, family housing.
“Bartlett Housing Solutions provides vitally important programs and services to our community,” Robert Flockvich, director of Community Outreach and Retail Lending for Clear Mountain Bank, said.
“We are pleased to be able to support them in the successful submission of their application and providing the funds to enable them to provide affordable housing through the Affordable Sustainable Housing Opportunities Require Empowerment (ASHORE) grant project.”
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