Rental Gap Program

The Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh is soliciting proposals through the Rental Gap Program to provide loans to developers for the creation and preservation of affordable rental housing within the city. The program specifically targets households at or below 30 percent, 50 percent, and 60 percent of the area median income, with a priority on shovel-ready projects that can quickly bring units to market and provide social services. To be eligible, projects must be located in Pittsburgh, consist of at least four units, and comply with all applicable zoning, environmental, and health and safety codes. Eligible borrowers must be experienced development teams, and those utilizing the Housing Opportunity Fund must include non-profit involvement. Funding provided through the program covers hard and soft costs for construction, rehabilitation, and supportive services. Applicants are required to submit a comprehensive package including a detailed narrative, a financial workbook, and various supporting documents such as legal organizing papers, financial statements, and capital needs assessments. Proposals are evaluated based on feasibility, development team capacity, cost reasonableness, and alignment with policy objectives such as geographic diversity and community engagement. The solicitation process includes a non-mandatory pre-application meeting and utilizes the Ion Wave Technologies system for submissions.