Allegheny County has taken a significant step towards addressing the intersection of housing instability and incarceration by selecting to participate in the Just Home project. As reported by Allegheny County, the county is one of six communities nationwide to join this initiative, which seeks to bolster community-led efforts to dismantle the cycle that frequently transitions individuals from incarceration back into homelessness or vice versa.
According to the official press release, the county will receive about $350,000 in funding over 27 months. The funding, provided by the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation and the Urban Institute, will support creating and implementing a housing investment action plan specifically tailored to the needs of people with criminal legal system involvement.
The Urban Institute, a reputed nonprofit research organization, backs this project alongside the MacArthur Foundation. The planning and implementation phases will conclude by late summer 2026, and Allegheny County can secure additional funds through a program-related investment of up to $5 million.
Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato emphasized the community's stance on housing as a fundamental human right. "Housing is a human right for all our neighbors," Innamorato stated, as per the county's press release, acknowledging the voice of the residents who have made clear that accessible, stable housing remains a top concern.
The Fifth Judicial District of Pennsylvania Criminal Division and various other criminal legal system affiliates, along with partners concerned with providing affordable housing, are joining in this collaboration. The Just Home initiative aligns with ongoing efforts under Allegheny County’s Safety and Justice Challenge, aimed at safely trimming the jail populace and lessening racial disparities within the criminal legal system.
