Above: Community leaders, including Laura R. Zinski, MVI chief executive officer, joined Comcast senior vice president Toni Murphy (third from right) and Allegheny County Executive Rich Fitzgerald (right) at the May 12 announcement. Comcast RISE program will provide $10,000 grants to minority and women entrepreneurs Application period begins in June; MVI will provide help with
Read MoreDuring January 2020, the Clairton Cares Initiative partnered with the Clairton Public Library and Pittsburgh’s public television station, WQED, to host a four-week-long PBS Kids program designed to enhance early childhood education (above). In January 2021, Mon Valley Initiative took over as the lead agency in Clairton’s six-year neighborhood partnership program, or NPP. The NPP
Read MoreNew and recently completed projects illustrate diversity, flexibility of MVI’s development approach The last three years have been busy ones for the real-estate team at Mon Valley Initiative, which in 2020 and 2021 completed two major projects—the Swissvale Schoolhouse Condominiums and the Holland Avenue Homes in Braddock—while beginning work on the Clairton Inn Apartments. In
Read MoreAcross the U.S., people trust MVI’s HUD Intermediary Program From across the network of housing counseling agencies served by Mon Valley Initiative, Dana Hodge II is hearing similar stories—there’s a real-estate boom underway, and it’s pushing low-to-moderate income homebuyers out of the market. “There are a lot of cash buyers out there who are offering
Read MoreCompetitive market heightened the need for housing education On the heels of the COVID-19 lockdowns of 2020 came the hottest real-estate market that Pittsburgh has seen in decades. Although it didn’t change what first-time buyers were looking for in a home, it did increase the challenge for them to make a purchase, says Jonathan Weaver,
Read MoreAverage house prices in Western Pennsylvania continue to be near all-time record highs. Wouldn’t it be nice if first-time homebuyers could get some help? Through the First Front Door (FFD) program, funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh, they can. Qualified homebuyers receive up to $5,000 in assistance toward down-payments and closing costs.
Read MoreBuying your first home? You may be able to get up to $5,000 towards down payment and closing costs through the First Front Door (FFD) program, funded by the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh. Under FFD, qualified homebuyers can receive a 3-to-1 matching contribution from a participating FFD lender. That means that for every
Read MoreIf you or someone you know is thinking about buying a home, you’ll be interested in two informational free events in March. On March 9, Bonnie Halinka, a real estate agent with Century 21 Frontier Realty, will join Jonathan Weaver, MVI housing counselor, for the third “Homebuyer’s Club” of 2022. Bonnie will answer questions about
Read MorePennsylvania homeowners facing foreclosure or other financial hardships because of the COVID-19 pandemic may be eligible for help. The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund will help homeowners whose annual household income is at or below 150 percent of the area median. The program is designed to prevent or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, displacements and utility
Read MoreMon Valley Initiative’s 10-week pre-employment certificate program recently began its second year. T. Charles Howell IV, MVI director of workforce development & financial coaching, said the latest group of participants began their online classes in mid-January. The online certificate classes cover topics such as “writing resumes that win,” virtual interviewing, cultural diversity, and credit and
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