NeighborWorks America has been a pillar of community development and affordable housing for over four decades. Through direct congressional appropriations ($200 million in FY 23), NeighborWorks provides critical funding, technical assistance, and training to more than 250 network organizations nationwide, including longtime PCRG partner NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania. However, this vital support is now at risk.
The Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has assigned staff to review and propose cuts to NeighborWorks funding, jeopardizing countless community development initiatives across the country. In response, national advocates have mobilized, urging community leaders, stakeholders, and residents to contact their legislators and demand continued support for NeighborWorks.
A Pittsburgh Legacy: The Birth of NeighborWorks
NeighborWorks’ origins trace back to Pittsburgh native Dorothy Mae Richardson, a visionary leader who, in the late 1960s, organized her neighbors to demand better housing conditions and reinvestment in their community. Her grassroots efforts led to the formation of the Neighborhood Housing Services (NHS) of Pittsburgh – the first organization of its kind.
Richardson’s work caught the attention of national leaders and inspired a movement. In 1978, Congress established NeighborWorks America to replicate the NHS model across the country. Today, Richardson’s legacy lives on through the NeighborWorks network, helping communities secure safe, affordable homes and build stronger neighborhoods.
NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania: A Vital Local Partner
Here in Pittsburgh and across Western Pennsylvania, PCRG has proudly partnered with NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania for many years. Together, we have:
Expanded homeownership opportunities for low- and moderate-income families
Increased access to homebuyer education and financial counseling
Supported the development and preservation of affordable housing
Collaborated on neighborhood stabilization initiatives
Through shared programs like first-time homebuyer workshops, foreclosure prevention counseling, and community investment partnerships, NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania and PCRG have empowered residents and strengthened neighborhoods throughout the region.
Building Stronger Community Through Public-Private Partnerships
One of NeighborWorks’ greatest strengths is its ability to unite public, private, and nonprofit sectors together. NeighborWorks organizations nationwide have cultivated strong partnerships with financial institutions to design and deliver programs that promote homeownership. These collaborations have resulted in expanded mortgage products for first-time homebuyers, down payment assistance, and innovative foreclosure prevention initiatives.
Banks and credit unions also provide critical philanthropic support and volunteer engagement through NeighborWorks programs, multiplying their impact in communities they serve.
What’s at Stake
If DOGE recommends eliminating congressional funding for NeighborWorks, local organizations like NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania could face significant funding shortfalls. These cuts would mean:
Reduced services
Fewer homeownership opportunities
Weakened community support networks
– all at a time when stable, affordable housing is more important than ever.