Pittsburgh Council proclaims Fair Housing Month, honors Friendship Circle and broadcaster Chris Moore

The Pittsburgh City Council adopted a proclamation declaring April 2026 Fair Housing Month and used the convening on April 14 to recognize local nonprofit and community leaders.

A councilmember read the proclamation, noting the city’s 1958 local fair housing law and federal protections under the Civil Rights Act of 1968. A representative of the city’s Fair Housing Commission urged the council to treat enforcement, access and outreach as intertwined priorities and said: “Housing is more than shelter. It is stability, it’s dignity, and it’s access to schools, jobs, healthcare, and to opportunity itself.” The representative emphasized the need for enforcement of existing protections and for education so residents and housing providers recognize and remedy discriminatory practices.

Council also proclaimed April 19 Friendship Circle Day. The proclamation noted Friendship Circle’s 20-year history in Pittsburgh and cited program statistics included in the record: the organization serves more than 500 individuals annually through 450 programs, engaged 1,800 students in a school initiative from 2024–25, and has a workplace training program that reported hiring people with disabilities in its bakery program. A councilmember invited Friendship Circle staff and youth participants to the dais; a representative of the organization thanked the council and highlighted the group’s focus on inclusive employment and youth services.

In a separate moment, council members presented a proclamation honoring Christopher T. (Chris) Moore for his decades of work in Pittsburgh broadcasting, his Emmy awards and his role mentoring journalists. Moore, who was cited in the proclamation for awards and long career contributions, accepted the recognition and thanked council members and family members in attendance.

The proclamations were approved by voice vote.