The 2024 challenge asked students to improve upon the current system of supports for immigrants and refugees, with the aim of improving outcomes for the population in Allegheny County. Specifically, we asked students to:
Craft and propose a solution that would improve service access for those who are “humanitarian” immigrants (including refugees, asylees and/or parolees) or individuals who are out of status (i.e. undocumented) in one of the following areas: Education, Housing, Physical Healthcare, Behavioral Healthcare, Employment.
DHS recognizes the challenges faced by immigrants and internationals as they make Allegheny County their home, as well as the strengths they employ to establish their lives here and integrate into the community. While the federal government manages refugee resettlement services across the country, DHS works with local organizations to support immigrants within the county, especially through our Immigrant Services and Connections (ISAC) program. ISAC helps individuals and families with various needs to connect to valuable community services, strengthen their natural supports and increase self-sufficiency.
Congratulations to the winners and finalists of the 2024 Local Government Case Competition!
1st Place: Fern Hollow
with "Humanitarian Advocacy for Neighborhood Disabilities and Support (DHS-HANDS)"
DHS-HANDS was aimed at supporting humanitarian immigrants and refugees with disabilities, who often lack the support they need because of system, provider and individual level barriers, like inadequate health insurance, inability to access federal mainstream benefits, language and communication barriers and inadequate community outreach. DHS-HANDS would provide specialized case management and peer support to refugees with disabilities, with the goal of supporting these individuals and ensuring enrollment in Medicaid, access to ADA benefits, and access to Supplemental Security Income.
Team Members
- Samiha Islam, Carnegie Mellon University
- Nathan Brooks, Carnegie Mellon University
- Cait Krulock, Penn West University
- Aditya Nayak, University of Pittsburgh
2nd Place: McKees Rocks
with "Navigating Home: Mapping Anchor Communities and Landlord Outreach Events for Newcomer Integration"
McKees Rocks envisioned a solution in which caseworkers would be able to use a GIS map displaying where affordable, vacant units exist and where languages other than English are spoken to inform their work finding housing for newcomers, and landlords would overcome concerns about renting to newcomers by attending “welcoming, educational, culturally appropriate” neighborhood events and landlord town hall meetings.
Team Members
- India Etheridge, Carnegie Mellon University
- Danielle Aira Savellano, Carnegie Mellon University
- Dharmesh Agase, Carnegie Mellon University
- Anna Pelleti, University of Pittsburgh
3rd Place: Hot Metal
with "PATH: Pittsburgh Affordable Transitional Housing"
Team Hot Metal noted that refugees experience difficulties access housing because of affordability, availability of housing, logistical constraints like a lack of credit scores and cosigners, and other factors like large household sizes. PATH envisioned a solution in which some of the 7,500 existing city-owned and blighted properties would be rehabilitated to offer these units for rent or sale to recently-resettled refugees via a randomized lottery. The properties would be put in a city-owned land trust to maintain affordability.
Team Members
- Clarice Ann Bagsic Santos, Carnegie Mellon University
- James Hanafee, Carnegie Mellon University
- Francis Foli, Duquesne University