Pittsburgh, PA, May 12, 2008 – Congressman Tim Murphy (PA-18) will hold a Forum on Affordable Housing on Thursday, May 29 in Bridgeville to further assess citizens’ needs and to make nonprofit organizations and for-profit developers across his district aware of potentially sizeable grants for the construction or rehabilitation of affordable housing projects.
This first-ever forum will begin at 10 a.m. at Goodwill Manor, 601 McMillen Street, Bridgeville. Congressman Murphy, along with John Bendel, director of Community Investment at the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh (FHLBank), will explain how qualified nonprofits and developers can apply for FHLBank grants in 2008 and beyond aimed at increasing the stock of both rental and for-purchase affordable housing across Allegheny, Beaver, Washington and Westmoreland counties. Also participating in the discussion will be representatives of the Allegheny County Housing Authority, Redevelopment Authority of the County of Washington, Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency and PNC Bank.
FHLBank’s Affordable Housing Program (AHP) makes individual grants of up to $650,000 available for a variety of new construction and rehabilitation projects aimed at improving the lives of very-low-, low-, and moderate-income families and individuals including the homeless, the elderly, the physically and mentally disabled and the chemically dependent. Approximately $20 million in AHP funds is available in 2008 for projects that meet certain criteria. Those criteria, as well as the process and deadlines for applying for the grants, will be explained in detail at the May 29 forum.
“I am pleased that the Federal Home Loan Bank of Pittsburgh has joined me in reaching out to my constituents so that we may bring additional clean, safe, affordable housing into the 18th District,” Congressman Murphy said. “I encourage anyone interested in the topic of affordable housing as well as the needs of the less fortunate to attend this important event.”
To register for the May 29 Forum on Affordable Housing, please call Tiffany Sinicki, FHLBank, at 412-288-7307; or e-mail her at 
Directions from I-79: Take the PA-50 exit toward Bridgeville. Proceed on PA-50 East/Millers Run Road. Turn left onto PA-50/Washington Pike. Turn right onto Chartiers Street, then left onto Dewey Avenue. Turn left onto McMillan. End at 601 McMillan.
