The Story
The Squirrel Hill Urban Coalition was founded in 1968 in response to the national urban crises of that era, with a mission to maintain and strengthen Squirrel Hill as a diverse, inclusive neighborhood. For over 55 years, SHUC has been the primary community development organization serving one of Pittsburgh's most vibrant neighborhoods.
SHUC provides food security programs, community engagement initiatives, and neighborhood improvement projects. Its food pantry serves hundreds of families each month, while its community programs bring together Squirrel Hill's remarkably diverse population of longtime residents, immigrants, students, and young professionals.
The organization has been instrumental in preserving Squirrel Hill's unique character as a walkable, commercially thriving neighborhood with strong local businesses along Forbes and Murray Avenues. SHUC's advocacy has helped ensure that development in the neighborhood serves existing residents.
What Makes It Pittsburgh
Squirrel Hill is Pittsburgh's most walkable, diverse, and commercially vibrant neighborhood, and SHUC is a major reason why. The organization's half-century of community work has kept Squirrel Hill the kind of place where independent businesses thrive, neighbors know each other, and diversity is genuine.
After the Tree of Life shooting in 2018, SHUC played a central role in community healing and resilience. The organization embodies Pittsburgh's neighborhood-level civic infrastructure, the kind of local institution that makes the city's communities strong.