22 Sep Pittsburg Says It Helped More Low-, Moderate-Income Households Than Expected

The Pittsburg City Council on Sept. 15 heard information from the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report required by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (Screenshot captured by Samantha Kennedy / The CC Pulse)

By Samantha Kennedy

The city of Pittsburg exceeded overall expectations when providing services to low- to moderate-income residents last year, according to a recent “report card.” 

Between July 1, 2024, and June 30, 2025, the city provided services to an extra 346 households than it had planned to, the Consolidated Annual Performance and Evaluation Report said. 

The annual report, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development requirement for jurisdictions that receive certain federal funding, outlines how the city is trying to create a “more livable, functional, and attractive community” for all. 

The city spent more than $1 million to fund programs that provide medical care and food for homeless residents, economic development activities like job training, and facilities projects that included increasing accessibility. 

Four organizations provided more than 3,600 residents with medical care or food through the funding, according to the report. 

The city has 14.6% of residents who are living below the poverty line, according to recent data estimates from the U.S Census Bureau in 2024. That’s more than the county’s 8.4% and Antioch’s 11.8%. 

The city also has the second-largest population — 73 this year — of residents who are homeless in East County, according to the 2025 Point-In-Time Count. The population is the fourth-largest across the county. 

Some Pittsburg advocates were part of a coalition pushing for better tenant protections to ease living costs in the city last year, placing a rent control measure on the November ballot. Voters rejected the measure. 

The push, which advocates previously failed to get council members to pass, would have meant a 3% rent cap or up to 60% of the inflation rate based on the Consumer Price Index. 

The city fell short of one affordable housing goal it set out to achieve as part of the funding, according to the report.

Despite hoping to provide five housing rehabilitation loans to low-income residents, the city provided only three in the fiscal year because of issues the city encountered, according to Ishani Rasanayagam, an administrative analyst. 

In July, officials also approved a “self-sufficiency” pilot program to help low-income residents receive job training in hopes of them gaining financial independence. A month later, it launched an Accessory Dwelling Unit Rebate program to increase housing opportunities.