OUR CHARGE

Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group 2019-20 Charge from Membership

Based upon one-on-one meetings conducted with membership PCRG has developed the following Advocacy and Policy Agenda for the next year

Capital & Finance

• Defend against escalating attacks on the Community Reinvestment Act, Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, HMDA reporting requirements expansion

• Provide more education on the benefits of CRA, use it to build more benefits agreements with banks

• Fight efforts to relax payday lending laws in Pennsylvania.

• Advocate for increased bank lending into low-moderate income communities and communities of color

• Advocate for diversified sources to sustain and grow the Pittsburgh Housing Opportunity Fund

• Enhance the County-level affordable housing trust fund, make it more accessible to members and their communities:

  • Understand allocations on an annual basis

  • Understand and promote its further capitalization

• Advocate for increased State funding for Main Street and other Keystone Communities programs

  Affordable Housing Tax Credit, uncap State RETT for State HTF

Membership

• Utilize PCRG communications plan to increase targeted interactions with members and affiliate groups (i.e., update distribution lists, newsletter frequency, social media & website, PCRG membership packet)

• Increase member participation within workgroups (i.e. VPWG, Developer’s Roundtable, CBCC/MBCC, GoBurgh)

• Develop PCRG member organization and Board Member onboarding/welcome packet and “How To Use PCRG” guide

• Grow more intentional and sustained member base

• Continuation of County member agenda

• Enhance the County-level affordable housing trust fund (HTF)

      i.   Understand annual allocations

     ii.   Understand and promote further capitalization of HTF

• Enhance member capacity through programs like VISTA, Reimagining Communities Initiative, and continual technical assistance and training

• Increase VISTA site placement from 10-13 within the year

Land & Housing

• Advocate for an effective, community-centered transition of the Pittsburgh Vacant Property Reserve into the Pittsburgh Land Bank and ensure that members’ property recycling needs are met within the new system.

• Assist County members in accessing, repurposing land via the County Tri-COG Land Bank

• Educate development industry on how and where to create truly affordable housing

Advance zoning/policy changes to encourage siting of affordable housing near frequent transit, in proximity to opportunities. Encourage new multi-unit mixed-use projects in high-transit areas.

• Educate banks on CLTs, their role in preservation process through homeownership opportunities

• Based on the outcomes of the Lawrenceville IPOD, advance inclusionary zoning implementation within the city, call on Planning and Council to deliver

• Assist developers in the production of affordable housing using the 4% Low-Income Housing Tax Credit; explore opportunities for “twinning” it with the 9% credit

• Advocate for the creation of a State Housing Tax Credit to augment PHFA’s affordable housing financing

• Uncap the State Real Estate Transfer Tax’s payment into the State Housing Trust Fund, adding $40-$50 million/yr to the Fund

Mobility & Transportation

• Ensure that new mobility choices like micro-transit, e-scooters, and transportation network companies augment mass transit’s capabilities rather than cannibalize them.

• Ensure that new mobility choices like micro-transit, e-scooters, and transportation network companies provide equal levels of service to low-moderate income communities and communities of color as middle/upper income and white communities.

• Advance zoning/policy changes to encourage siting of affordable housing near frequent transit, in proximity to opportunities. Encourage new multi-unit mixed-use projects in high-transit areas

• Advocate for more capital investment in pedestrian, transit, and biking upgrades, especially in low/moderate-income communities, to create greater mobility equity

• Continue pushing for a strategic, long-range plan for transit expansion and improvement, including funding

• Ensure that communities’ needs are represented and heard in the upcoming Port Authority long-range plan

  • Affordable housing

    • State Trust Fund ( $25 mil cap to $50 mil)

      • Integrate into Developer Roundtable discussion

      • Build understanding with members for state advocacy efforts

      • Find impact data (Alix)

    • HOF funding resources (Policy Team + Ernie & Alyssa)

      • managing expectations of the Board

      • More heavily resourced/oversaturated product

      • Prioritize community feedback/consensus building

      • Coordinate with Pittsburgh United (Alyssa + Alix <3)

      • Housing preservation strategies

    • State housing tax credit

    • Land Bank/reserve

      • Share testimonies with membership

      • County-wide strategy on Affordable Housing

  • Bank Trends

    • PCRG banking agenda?

    • Branch closures, CRA, GSE/Secondary market

      • CDFI capacity within Affordable Housing

  • Member engagement: Best ways to communicate with members (i.e. work groups, policy charge, newsletter, etc.)

  • Transit

    • Southwestern PA Commission 10-year Transportation plan

      • Build education/information platform on website

      • Member discussion part of membership meeting

    • Port Authority Strategic long term plan

      • Build education/information platform on website

      • Member discussion part of membership meeting

  • Additional items?

    • Additional RCO conversations (reached out to Hill CDC; listen to coalition conversations)

      • City planning/Mayor’s Office debrief of RCO (Andrew Dash, Ray Gastil & Majestic Lane)

      • Getting ahead of the renewal process (May 2020)

    • Opportunity Zones: how do we support our members?

      • Integrate into Developer Roundtable discussion – Jonnet Solomon (PNC Bank)

Decision-making based on membership (issue based vs. capacity)