Project Grant 18VSAPA004

THE MISSION THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH OFFICE OF THE MAYOR IS TO PROVIDE LEADERSHIP, STRATEGIC DIRECTION AND ADMINISTRATIVE OVERSIGHT TO ALL ASPECTS OF CITY GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS AND TO DEVELOP AND IMPLEMENT POLICY REFLECTIVE OF THE GOALS AND PRIORITIES OF THE CITYWIDE COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF THE BUREAU OF NEIGHBORHOOD EMPOWERMENT, CREATED IN 2014 AS A KEY BUREAU WITHIN THE MAYOR?S OFFICE, IS TO BUILD OUR CITY'S LOW AND MODERATE INCOME NEIGHBORHOODS FROM THE GROUND UP BY ADDRESSING ISSUES SURROUNDING AFFORDABLE AND MIXED INCOME HOUSING, EDUCATION AND YOUTH DEVELOPMENT, IMMIGRANT, VETERAN, LGBTQIA+ AND CHALLENGED POPULATIONS, NONPROFIT AND FAITH-BASED COMMUNITY INITIATIVES, SMALL BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT, ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY IS TO PROVIDE FOR THE SECURITY AND SAFETY OF ALL RESIDENTS AND PATRONS OF THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH THROUGH THE OVERSIGHT AND EXECUTION OF THE PUBLIC SAFETY OPERATIONAL STRATEGIES THROUGH THE PLANNED AND COORDINATED EFFORTS OF THE BUREAUS OF POLICE (PBP), FIRE (PBF), EMERGENCY MEDICAL SERVICES (EMS), AND ANIMAL CARE AND CONTROL. THE MISSION FOR THE HOUSING AUTHORITY CITY OF PITTSBURGH (HACP) IS TO BE THE FLAGSHIP AGENCY PROVIDING PROPERTY MANAGEMENT AND REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT SERVICES IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH, THEREBY CREATING ENVIRONMENTS THAT IMPROVE THE QUALITY OF LIFE FOR HACP CUSTOMERS. THE MISSION OF THE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES & CIVIL SERVICE IS TO DEVELOP A HIGHLY FUNCTIONING WORKFORCE WHILE RESPECTING INDIVIDUAL DIGNITY, PROMOTING AND CELEBRATING A DIVERSE POPULATION, UPHOLDING APPLICABLE LAWS AND REGULATIONS, AND MOLDING A POSITIVE CORPORATE CULTURE. THE PROPOSED VISTA PROJECT ALIGNS WITH THE FOCUS AREAS OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY, EDUCATION K-12, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES AND HEALTHY FUTURES. THE GOALS OF THE PROJECT INCLUDE ADDRESSING THE GROWING OPIOID CRISIS, INCREASING THE AWARENESS OF SERVICES AVAILABLE TO YOUTH AND ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR DIRE NEED, CONNECTING IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES TO SERVICES THAT HELP THEM THRIVE IN THE COMMUNITY, CONNECTING VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES TO EMPLOYMENT RESOURCES, AND INCREASING ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR LOW-INCOME CHILDREN BY FOCUSING ON INCREASING SUCCESS IN GRADES K-12 AND HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION RATES. THIS VISTA PROJECT EXPECTS TO BENEFIT HUNDREDS OF LOW INCOME FAMILIES AND YOUTH AND ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS OR UNSTABLE LIVING ENVIRONMENTS, VETERANS AND MILITARY FAMILIES, IMMIGRANTS AND REFUGEES WHO SETTLE IN PITTSBURGH, AND HUNDREDS OF SUBSTANCE ABUSERS, THEIR LOVED ONES AND LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES AFFECTED BY THE OPIOID CRISIS IN PITTSBURGH. WE ARE REQUESTING FIVE (5) VISTA MEMBERS OVER A PERIOD OF THREE YEARS FOR THIS PROJECT. THE MEMBERS WILL CONTRIBUTE TO THE GOALS LISTED ABOVE BY PERFORMING RESEARCH; LIAISING WITH AND PERFORMING OUTREACH WITHIN THE TARGETED POPULATIONS OF THEIR RESPECTIVE PROJECT TO ASSESS THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY; DEVELOPING PROGRAMS TO ADDRESS THE NEEDS OF THE LOW-INCOME COMMUNITIES SERVED WITHIN THEIR RESPECTIVE PROJECT; AND LIAISING WITH APPROPRIATE COMMUNITY PARTNERS.