Advancing Economic Mobility in Times of Uncertainty
2025 Impact Report
Partnering to Bring Affordable Housing to Our Neighborhoods
In 2025, Neighborhood Allies played a key role in seven transformative affordable housing developments that were awarded Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement grants by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
Advancing Economic Mobility in Times of Uncertainty
2025 Impact Report
Partnering to Bring Affordable Housing to Our Neighborhoods
In 2025, Neighborhood Allies played a key role in seven transformative affordable housing developments that were awarded Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement grants by the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency.
Neighborhood Allies’ Investments and Technical Assistance Help Secure PHARE Funding for Local Developers
In 2025, The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) awarded a total of $73 million in PHARE (Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement) grants to housing initiatives across the state–including several transformative developments in Allegheny County.
Neighborhood Allies played a key role in seven of the funded projects, offering a combination of technical assistance, financial investment, and capacity building that helped community developers move their ideas and projects forward.
Active Engagement Across Seven Projects
We provided targeted technical assistance to four projects that went on to receive PHARE funding, deployed $15,000 predevelopment grants to two community developers, and even made a direct equity investment of $800,000 in the Homewood Redevelopment Project led by the Pennsylvania Affordable Housing Corporation—a bold, community-centered vision for Homewood. Additionally, three of the developers we partnered with are also graduates of our Real Estate Co-Powerment Series, a course that breaks down the real estate development process, equips residents with practical tools, and helps them get active projects across the finish line.
The South 7th Street Apartments in Duquesne | $200,000 PHARE Grant Awarded
“The Real Estate Co-Powerment Series gave me the tools and confidence to submit our award-winning PHARE Grant application. I’d started the project out of pocket without support until Neighborhood Allies’ predevelopment grant. The cohort empowered me to apply and win PHFA’s very competitive grant for affordable housing.”
Sylvie Celeste Deaderick, President & CEO of PA Home Matters, over her 20-year career in real estate, has always had a clear goal in mind: to bring high-quality, affordable housing back to communities that have been left behind.
Her project, the South 7th Street Apartments Project, is a total gut rehab of an abandoned 10-unit property in the City of Duquesne. Considering herself a blight-buster, Sylvie felt pulled to restore the building, which had been vacant for more than 15 years. She gives credit to the City of Duquesne for its cooperative political culture and vested interest in returning vacant properties both to the tax roll and the residents when speaking about her work.
Neighborhood Allies provided:
A $15,000 predevelopment grant to cover the costs of structural evaluation, plumbing, and architectural drawings.
Tailored technical assistance, including assistance in applying for the PHARE grant, which was awarded for $200,000!
Valuable knowledge and connections as a participant of the Real Estate Co-Powerment Series.
“The impact [of the predevelopment grant] has been TREMENDOUS,” Sylvie said. “My passion was met with a capital investment. Prior to my involvement with Neighborhood Allies, I was somewhat at a standstill. The confidence I gained from my relationship with Neighborhood Allies was just as beneficial as the predevelopment grant. I learned what is necessary to leverage additional funding and relationships.”
Renderings of the South 7th Street Apartments in Duquesne. Provided by Sylvie Celeste Deaderick.
Cliffside Overlook in the Hill District | $150,000 PHARE Grant Awarded
“I’m just a girl from the Hill District who remembers when homes and businesses were the heartbeat of our community. My dream is to be one of the people who helps rebuild the Hill District no matter what it takes.”
Tyian Battle is the owner of Half the Battle, LLC. and the Executive Director of ACH Clear Pathways. Tyian led the revitalization of the historic Kaufman Center ahd that experience–raising funds, managing construction, and seeing a major project through to completion—sparked “a burning desire to become a developer.”
Her project, Cliffside Overlook will bring four new units of affordable housing to the very street where she grew up in the Hill District.
Neighborhood Allies provided:
A $15,000 predevelopment grant to cover the costs of architectural design services and attorney fees.
Tailored technical assistance, including assistance in applying for the PHARE grant, which was awarded for $150,000!
Valuable knowledge and connections as a participant of the Real Estate Co-Powerment Series.
Rendering of Cliffside Overlook
Recently, Half the Battle, LLC. broke ground on Cliffside Overlook! We are excited to watch these units come to fruition.
Read more about our partners who were awarded PHARE funding in 2025, and more about Sylvie and Tyian.
Neighborhood Allies continues to partner with small, local developers on affordable housing initiatives. In 2025 alone, we supported projects that will bring more affordable housing units to the neighborhoods that we serve.
Hear from our partner, Shawn Taylor, about his experiencing working with us to bring up to 69 units of affordable housing to Homewood. Read more and watch the video below!
Neighborhood Allies
429 Fourth Avenue, Suite 1900
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412.471.3727
www.neighborhoodallies.org info@neighborhoodallies.org