ICYMI: Secretary Scott Turner Visits Pittsburgh to Witness Innovative Housing Solutions, Tours U.S. Steel and Faith-Based Shelter

July 31, 2025 / Source: HUD

Pittsburgh, Pa. – U.S. Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Secretary Scott Turner joined U.S. Senators David McCormick (R-PA) and John Fetterman (D-PA) in Pittsburgh with stops at U.S. Steel, Connect Bedford Dwellings, and Light of Life Rescue Mission.

“Pittsburgh stands as a testament to America’s spirit of hard work and resilience—the virtues that will help solve our nation’s housing affordability issues,” said HUD Secretary Scott Turner. “Communities know best how to promote stability and self-sufficiency in their own localities, and I’m happy to have witnessed this work firsthand with Senators McCormick and Fetterman in the Steel City.”

“It was great spending the day in Pittsburgh with Secretary Turner and getting to demonstrate firsthand so much of what makes Pennsylvania great and a pillar of our nation’s future success. From U.S. Steel’s historic Edgar Thomson Works, which will help revitalize manufacturing in our region, to Bedford Dwellings’ efforts to help working Pennsylvanians achieve and maintain the dream of home ownership, and Light of Life’s incredible, faith-based mission to lift up those in need and help them achieve a brighter future, we saw the best western Pennsylvania has to offer,” said Senator McCormick. “I’m looking forward to continuing working with President Trump, Secretary Turner, and my colleagues in Congress to expand access to affordable housing and revitalize communities in Pennsylvania and across America.”

Visit Highlights:

Secretary Turner, Senator McCormick, and Senator Fetterman began the day by meeting with leaders at U.S. Steel, followed by a tour of the U.S. Steel Edgar Thomson Works. In a media availability following the tour, Secretary Turner emphasized the critical role private enterprise plays in driving economic growth, touting the successes of the now permanent Opportunity Zone Initiative thanks to President Trump’s One Big Beautiful Bill.

Secretary Turner and Senator McCormick toured Bedford Dwellings, the first public housing development constructed by the Housing Authority in Pittsburgh which provides affordable housing units along with educational, recreational and lifestyle programs tailored to youth, families and seniors.

Secretary Turner and Senator McCormick concluded the day at Light of Life Rescue Mission, a nonprofit rescue mission that provides food, shelter and other critical services to men, women and children experiencing homelessness, poverty, or addiction. Following the conclusion of the tour, they participated in a roundtable focused on the importance of public-private partnerships, underscoring the need to strengthen collaboration with faith-based leaders and community organizations that understand their communities’ needs best.

In the News:

“Braddock is replete with rundown and blighted buildings and homes. Turner said the sale will go a long way in solving that issue. Turner and McCormick specifically say one thing stands in the way. ‘When you have burdensome regulations, it cripples development, it cripples building,’ Turner said. ‘It’s all about supply, it’s all about reducing regulations,’ McCormick said.”

“Secretary Turner…calling Pittsburgh ‘a testament to America’s spirit of hard work and resilience.’ He noted that the visit highlighted the importance of partnerships in driving self-sufficiency and expanding opportunity. ‘When Americans unite in service, we revitalize communities,’ he said.”

“Federal officials hinted Friday morning at plans to build more housing near U.S. Steel’s Edgar Thomson Works as the firm’s new owner, Nippon Steel, prepares to spend big on upgrades. ‘When you create jobs, there’s a housing need,’ said Housing and Urban Development Secretary Scott Turner at a news conference outside the facility.”

“Standing outside the plant after his tour, Turner pledged that improvements to the U.S. Steel facility under the agreement with Nippon Steel will mean improvements to the neighborhood. ‘We look forward to working with the city, working with the state, working with my colleagues to see how we can come in, and to provide and to build and perform public-private partnerships to build housing, to create jobs, to build workforce,’ Turner said. ‘This city, this area that we’re standing in, is an opportunity zone. It’s primed for community revitalization.’”

“HUD is looking to partner with the city, state, other politicians and private entities to expand affordable housing in the areas near the mills, particularly Braddock, he said Friday. Braddock is part of what HUD refers to as Opportunity Zones — economically depressed neighborhoods that may be able to revitalize through preferential tax programs. There are nearly 9,000 Opportunity Zones across the country, according to HUD’s website.”

“Turner said the Trump administration is dedicated to cutting regulations related to housing construction and is encouraging local and state officials, which control much of the approvals for housing, to do the same. He said there’s a need for 7 million units of housing, and he and McCormick said after the tour that the cost of housing must be made affordable for working people.”

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