Food Security Team
Rooted in our mission to connect policy to people, our Food Security Project Team works to better understand the local food landscape and explore solutions to reduce food insecurity in Pittsburgh neighborhoods.
This team is currently working on a few sub-projects concurrently:
SNAP Enrollment
Through our partnership with Fishes and Loaves, we have created a pamphlet (displayed below) that details information about SNAP benefits. This has been distributed to residents in the Hazelwood neighborhood and will be supplemented with one-on-one help with enrolling in SNAP benefits.
Current Project Work: The Policy Analysts are working with Just Harvest to create a training program for volunteers that will allow them to work with residents through the SNAP application process.
Urban Agriculture
SNAP Food Stocking Policy Analysis
In Fall 2025, our team researched the potential national and local effects of the Updated Staple Food Stocking Standards, which requires retailers to stock more varieties of food in each category. We found that small SNAP retailers may struggle to comply with the updated standards and be forced to exit the program, ultimately reducing access to SNAP. Pittsburgh is highly likely to be affected, as many of its SNAP retailers are small corner stores, and 47% of residents already have low access to food. Our research was sent to the USDA as a public comment, which you can read by clicking the button below.
Housing Team
As in many cities across the country, Pittsburgh continues to face pressing challenges around housing affordability, access, and stability. In response, our Housing Project Team launched research and policy initiatives aimed at supporting local organizations and amplifying community-driven solutions.
This year, the team partnered with Catapult Greater Pittsburgh and Neighborhood Allies, while also laying the foundation for future collaborations with other nonprofits in the housing justice space. Over the course of the spring semester, two project co-leads and seven analysts worked to build meaningful relationships and deliver high-quality, policy-focused research.
White Paper on Pennsylvania’s Inheritance Tax
In collaboration with Catapult Greater Pittsburgh’s Clinic for Legal Equity and Repairs (CLEAR), the team investigated the regressive impacts of inheritance tax laws on families dealing with “tangled titles.” Their work culminated in a white paper that analyzed current tax policy and proposed reforms currently under consideration in state legislation.
Policy Support for Neighborhood Allies
Working closely with Neighborhood Allies—an organization focused on strengthening neighborhoods through innovative capital and policy efforts—the team conducted a landscape analysis of housing-related legislation. Their findings were compiled into a series of policy position papers aligned with the organization’s four key impact areas.
Pittsburgh Policy Initiative 