Community Partners

C o m m u n i t y P a r t n e r s

Help for Homeowners

Homeowners who are 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, a spokesman said. The program is designed to prevent or ease mortgage delinquencies, defaults, foreclosures, displacements and utility disconnections.

The Pennsylvania General Assembly allocated $350 million in federal funds toward the relief effort.

Locally, Mon Valley Initiative is one of the agencies that will provide help through the program.

To find out more information, call housing counselor Jonathan Weaver at 412-464-4000, ext. 4008, or email jweaver@monvalleyinitiative.com.

Serve With SEDCO

The Swissvale Economic Development Corporation (SEDCO) is a group of individuals living and working in Swissvale whose mission is to organize, direct, and coordinate economic revitalization projects in the Borough. SEDCO was formed in 1989 as one of the first community development corporations in the Mon Valley as part of the Mon Valley Initiative (MVI).

One of SEDCO’s most recent programs is the Curb Appeal Mini Grant that provides home and business owners with up to $150 for exterior improvement projects to boost the curb appeal of their homes and/or businesses. Since last summer, 21 residents have applied for this grant. If you are interested, additional information and the application can be found on the Borough website.

Through partnership with the Mon Valley Initiative (MVI), numerous residential properties in Swissvale have been renovated for purchase by first time home buyers through the Rehab for Resale Program. SEDCO is always looking for potential properties for inclusion in this program. The most recent renovation project was the $3 million Schoolhouse Condominiums located on McClure Avenue. MVI purchased the former Deniston School using the Allegheny County's Vacant Property Recovery Program. Following its complete renovation, the building became the 18-unit Schoolhouse Condominiums providing affordable, quality housing in the east suburbs of Pittsburgh.

SEDCO and MVI also partnered on the $4.35 million Kopp Glass Gateway project that removed 13 blighted structures and created 16 new homes, including four affordable condos in the old Madonna del Castello church on Duquesne Ave. The focal point of this successful project is the Park Avenue greenway at Monongahela Ave.

Each month, from March through November, SEDCO sponsors Swissvale Litter Clean-Up days. Litter Clean-Ups are held at 10:00 a.m. on the second Saturday of the month. Volunteers meet at the corner of Woodstock Ave and Melrose St. This program has been in place for several years and all are welcome to help keep Swissvale clean! (See below for dates!)

SEDCO is always looking for ways to improve our community. We would love to have you be part of this volunteer organization, providing fresh, new ideas for Swissvale. Join us for one of our meetings! SEDCO meets the fourth Monday of every month. Meetings are held at 6:30 p.m. at the Wilkins School Community Center, 7604 Charleston Ave. For more information. please contact SEDCO at SwissvaleSEDCO@gmail.com

SEDCO Clean-Up Dates

April 9 May 14 June 11 July 9 August 13 September 10 October 8 November 12