Outwith Studio presents LGBTQIA+ housing study to Pittsburgh human-rights commission

June McCartin, principal at Outwith Studio, and Estee Shapiro, an associate at Outwith Studio, presented results of a Commission on Human Relations (CHR)–commissioned study on housing discrimination against LGBTQIA+ residents during the commission's regular meeting.

The research, commissioned by the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, combined a Typeform survey (67 submitted responses), site events, interviews, and a mobile “zine” exhibit to document how sexual orientation, gender identity and gender expression (SOGI) shape housing experiences locally, the presenters said.

The study found that harassment was the most commonly reported form of discrimination in rental situations, with respondents also reporting suspected steering, withheld maintenance, privacy violations tied to mismatched identity documents, and in some cases denial of shelter space or placement in facilities that did not align with their gender identity. Presenters said 84% of survey respondents were current Pittsburgh residents; 57% rented, 34% owned and about 16–18% reported episodes of acute housing insecurity. June McCartin said the sample was not demographically representative (91% of respondents identified as white), a factor the researchers warned likely undercounts discriminatory experiences among people of color.

"We found that harassment by neighbors and differential treatment by landlords or agents — frequently triggered when contacts move from email to in-person meetings — were common pathways to exclusion in the rental market," June McCartin said. Estee Shapiro said withholding of maintenance and privacy breaches tied to legal documents were recurring themes, and that informal housing networks (friends, “chosen family,” barter arrangements) play a large role in community resilience.

Commission staff updated commissioners on related CHR operations during the same meeting. Rachel, director of the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, said the CHR has 49 open investigations, 17 pending intakes, 15 post‑cause cases (three in court), 12 pending mandatory conciliations, and six cases on the public‑hearing track, of which two are scheduled. Rachel told commissioners the commission expects to expand strategic‑planning work under a renewed contract and had executed a contract with Just Mediation Pittsburgh to distribute fair‑housing materials through eviction mediation.

Commissioners and presenters discussed several next steps the study suggested: increasing paired‑testing capacity to detect discriminatory practices proactively; maintaining or expanding lists of reliably fair landlords; strengthening outreach and communication pathways to under‑represented community members; and supporting informal housing networks that provide emergency shelter.

Chair Collins, chair of the City of Pittsburgh Commission on Human Relations, praised the project and urged commissioners to use it in planning for fair‑housing month and other outreach. Rachel said CHR staff would share the slides and consider including the Outwith Studio team in future community‑relations planning.

The presenters repeatedly cautioned about limitations: the survey was not scientific, had a small sample, and under‑represented people of color. June McCartin emphasized those caveats while urging the commission to treat the findings as actionable leads rather than definitive prevalence estimates.

The meeting also recorded two administrative outcomes mentioned during the director's report: CHR staff said the Louis Nittrauer Consulting resolution was passed and that the Just Mediation Pittsburgh contract is fully executed and beginning distribution of materials to tenants and landlords involved in eviction mediation.

Commissioners said they would follow up on the presentation at the community relations committee and explore how CHR can expand landlord education, community reporting mechanisms that do not force a complaint into full investigation, and supports for informal emergency housing networks.