CM Wilson Urges the Housing Authority to Prevent Possible Evictions

Published on September 15, 2026

Councilman Bobby Wilson Urges the Housing Authority to Prevent Possible Evictions

Current policy only allows rent increase request every year at a $100 cap, leading to potential eviction of tenants

Pittsburgh, PA (September 15, 2026)—Councilman Bobby Wilson (District 1) introduces a Will of Council to urge the Housing Authority of the City of Pittsburgh to reevaluate voucher amounts to ensure that rents for occupied units can be appropriately adjusted while allowing the existing tenants to remain in their homes.

This Will of Council stems from an ongoing issue with two units at the Five-Points property located at 3917-3925 Perrysville Ave, currently owned and operated by the Observatory Hill Development Corporation (OHDC). The building includes six Housing Choice Voucher apartments and three commercial spaces. Several units were originally approved at rents lower that HACP’s current standards but have been corrected through tenant turnover, however two units with long-term residents remain at approximately half the rent currently approved for comparable units.

Because of HACP’s current polices, rent increases are limited to $100 annually and are subject to specific anniversary dates and advance-notice requirements, which would take nearly 10 years to achieve the correct rent levels all while removing the current tenants from their residence. OHDC and Councilman Wilson have engaged with HACP leadership to find a solution to keep the long-term tenants in their homes while addressing the rent disparity. According to HACP, the only options for OHDC to bring the units to financially viable rent levels are to evict the tenants, reprocess the unit, and relist it with the new rent rate, or wait until a tenant decides to move out of the unit.

“Eviction should not be the only option in this situation,” stated Councilman Wilson. “An internal policy is contributing to two families losing their homes by no fault of their own. The HACP should be creating housing, and finding ways to keep people in their homes, not moving to evict. This process is unacceptable and contrary to the goals and mission of the authority.”

OHDC has faced increasing operating costs, rents substantially below HACP’s current standards, and ongoing vacancies, making the property’s original financial projections and operating budgets unsustainable. More can be done to correct this situation so that the tenants can remain in their homes and OHDC can remain a financially viable organization.

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Julianne Hluska
Chief of Staff
Councilman Bobby Wilson
Julianne.hluska@pittsburghpa.gov
412-676-5758