Erin Dalton to oversee New York social services for Mamdani

Erin Dalton, a key figure in Allegheny County government who has overseen housing and other initiatives as the head of its Department of Human Services, is leaving that post to work in the administration of New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani.

“While we are terribly disappointed to lose Director Dalton, we know Allegheny County’s loss is New York City’s gain,” said Allegheny County executive Sara Innamorato in a statement Wednesday morning. Crediting Dalton with having devised “innovative, data-driven, and compassionate solutions,” Innamorato said she was proud “of the work we’ve done together to house our neighbors, support people with substance use disorder, and reimagine public safety and mental health response. I know she will serve the New York City community well.”

Dalton said in the statement that over the past three decades the county had become “a national model — not only for compassionate and effective human services delivery, but for rigorously testing solutions and continuously innovating.”

Dalton’s departure was first reported Wednesday morning in The New York Times, which noted that Dalton’s work in Allegheny County included the creation of a system of winter weather shelters for homeless people — a pressing need in a city where at least 20 people died in winter storms.

The Times also credits Dalton’s work to send mental-health professionals to answer 911 calls as “a strategy that mirrors Mr. Mamdani’s intent in creating a Department of Community Safety.”

“Erin Dalton has spent decades making government work better for those who need it most — expanding housing access, strengthening social services and protecting our most vulnerable neighbors,” Mamdani said in a statement to The Times.

It is not clear precisely when Dalton will conclude her work with Allegheny County, though the county said her departure would come early next month. The department will be led by Interim Director Alex Jutca pending a “nationwide search” for a replacement.

But Dalton’s departure may be keenly felt locally.

She has spearheaded some of county Executive Sara Innamorato’s signature programs, including the “500 in 500” housing initiative, which sought to establish 500 units of affordable housing within 500 days. Known for a data-driven approach to government, she pioneered the use of algorithms to spot potential cases of child neglect — though the technology has sparked some concerns about bias. She also led efforts to improve the response to human service calls and reduce drug-overdose deaths, among other initiatives.

Allegheny County officials are celebrating having housed more than 500 individuals as part of its “500 in 500” initiative.

Dalton has worked for the county for 18 years and was first appointed as director in 2021 by former county Executive Rich Fitzgerald, who chose her to replace retiring longtime DHS head Marc Cherna. The agency oversees social safety-net programs that include child protective services, efforts to address homelessness, drug and alcohol treatment, and programs for senior citizens.

Local human-services leaders in the area had high praise for Dalton following Wednesday’s announcement. 

“I cannot speak highly enough of Erin Dalton and how she always puts people at the center of the work. She’s earned the respect of community partners by relying on their expertise and by using data to build systems that work for people,” said Bobbi Watt Geer, president & CEO of United Way of Southwestern Pennsylvania. 

Dalton had been “instrumental” in making the United Way 2-1-1 hotline a “front door” to human services, Watt Geer said, particularly during November’s delay in federal food assistance benefits. 

Dalton’s leadership helped DHS advance crucial initiatives, said Lena Andrews, chief executive officer of Pittsburgh-based nonprofit developer ACTION-Housing.  

“Erin and her team enabled ACTION-Housing to prevent evictions, provide transitional housing for former foster youth, build and operate Second Avenue Commons, Pittsburgh’s first low-barrier shelter, and manage many programs to meet the needs of our neighbors,” said Andrews. 

“We are proud that Erin’s leadership is being recognized on a national stage,” she added. 

Dalton earned a master’s degree in public policy and management from Carnegie Mellon University, and she previously worked for the National Institute of Justice and public policy organizations, including the RAND Corporation.

Kate Giammarise contributed to this story.