POLARA’s long-term goal is to implement a Community Stabilization & Restoration Program that will accomplish the following objectives during its initial operational phase:
Help stabilize existing communities by ensuring that current residents – especially long-term residents, minority residents, returning citizens, senior citizens, veterans, and working families – are able to secure safe and affordable housing; and
Help current renters – especially long-term residents, minority residents, returning citizens, senior citizens, veterans, and working families – make the transition from renting to homeownership.
During the second phase of its Community Stabilization & Restoration Program, POLARA will also seek to reduce the number of residents who experience housing instability and/or homelessness by helping them move to shelters and/or apartments. In conjunction with this phase, POLARA will also work with the City of Pittsburgh and Allegheny County to convert government-owned properties into shelters and affordable rental units (Note: At present, Pittsburgh owns more than 6,000 housing units – and spends +/- $2 million per year to demolish the most dangerous ones).
