Pittsburgh commission director reports steady contracts but CDBG uncertainty; outlines housing-protection push and outreach calendar

PITTSBURGH — The commission’s director reported at the March 3 monthly meeting that the agency’s federal contracts remain “secure for now,” but Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding that has supported local fair‑housing work is uncertain.

The director said work is under way to expand public education and to explore adding housing status as a protected class in the city code so people experiencing homelessness would not face housing discrimination. She also outlined a busy spring schedule of trainings, public events and outreach tabling across Pittsburgh.

Why it matters: The commission enforces local civil‑rights provisions and helps people pursue remedies for discrimination. Federal and local grant funding support education, intake and investigation work; any cut in CDBG dollars could affect outreach and program capacity. Adding housing status to city protections would change how landlords and housing providers may screen applicants within Pittsburgh, if the change is adopted by city council and written into the city code.

Director’s funding update and casework The director said the commission “does receive federal funding. Our contracts are secure for now.” She added that one federal grant (EEOC funding) had been reduced earlier and that the current concern is whether CDBG funds allocated in last year’s plan — roughly $100,000 per year for affirmative fair‑housing work in prior budgets — will be available when allocations are finalized later this summer. The director said the commission is “still just…