State Senator Lindsey M. Williams, Your District 38 Update

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*Thank
You 38th Senate District!*

It is an honor to serve as the Senator
for the 38th District. My team and I are so excited to continue to
support and work for the people, organizations, and communities of PA
Senate District 38 here and in Harrisburg!

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*2022
Events Review**

We highlighted our Senior Fair in last week's 2022
Events Review. This week we're featuring Senator Williams' PA Bear
Legislative Research trip!* *

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*Senate
Game & Fisheries Committee 2022 Legislative Bear Research Trip *

On
March 7, 2002 I had the opportunity to join a legislative research
tour with the Senate Game and Fisheries Committee. The Pennsylvania
Game Commission [link 1] spent time giving us information on the bear
population here in the state and what is being done to protect and
preserve these animals and their habitat. We then had the opportunity
to meet several baby bear cubs and see their mama bear in her den
while Game Commission officials examined her to ensure she'll be
healthy and able to care for her cubs in the spring.

***These
photos were taken during a research trip under the supervision of
trained wildlife experts. Members of the public should not encroach on
bear territory or attempt to interact with bears or bear cubs on their
own.***

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*Good
News**

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*Hampton
Heros!*

It was an honor to participate in Hampton Township School
District [link 2]'s annual Hampton Heroes program on October 4th. This
year they inducted five local veterans into the Hampton Heroes during
a ceremony made special by wonderful speakers and students.

Local
veterans honored during 2022 Hampton Heroes program | District News
Stories (ht-sd.org) [link 3]

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*Election
Workers and Volunteers!*

Thank you to our Judges, Inspectors/Clerks
of Elections, and Poll Workers who served in the 2022 General
Election! Our elections are made possible by thousands of regular
citizens who serve as poll workers and they did a fantastic job this
year.

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*Allegheny
County Rehabilitation Program is Accepting Applications!*

Earlier
this month, my colleagues Jay Costa [link 4], Innamorato, and I
announced the creation of the Allegheny County Rehabilitation Program
[link 5] through a $2 million DCED grant. This program is administered
by ACTION Housing and is now live. It will help low-income residents
make repairs to their houses so that they can continue to reside
safely in their homes and communities.

Information on the
program:

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Eligible Projects:

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Infrastructure repairs;

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Accessibility accommodations;

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Weatherization of aging homes.
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Eligibility:

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Allegheny County families at or below 80% of
AMI [link 6], or $75,850 for a family of 4.

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Application
Options:

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Online at Homepage - ACTION Housing [link 7];

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Call Action Housing at 412-639-9416;

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Paper application:
ACRP-Application-Final-and-fillable.pdf (actionhousing.org) [link
8].

Sharpsburg expected to benefit from $2 million state grant for
older home repairs | TribLIVE.com [link 9]

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*Upcoming
PHEAA Financial Aid Webinars *

As families move closer to 2023-2024
planning for postsecondary education, the Pennsylvania Higher
Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) [link 10] is hosting two helpful
webinars just in time for High School Seniors who have applied and
will be receiving 'financial offer letters.' Avoid the confusion and
tune in - the more you know, the more prepared you'll be!

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*Understanding the Offer Letter and Covering the Balances** Thursday
11/17/22 @ 6:30pm*

The Offer Letter or Financing Plans that you
receive to provide an idea of the costs associated with attending post
secondary education can be confusing, as each school formats their
information differently. PHEAA, represented by Linda Pacewicz and
Daniel Wray of PA Forward, will assist you in this 1 hour webinar in
understanding and navigating through the types of Aid that are listed,
what you are being offered and identifying the balances and next steps
needed so you can make knowledgeable and affordable decisions. Q&A
interaction is encouraged.

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*Covering the Gap: Pieces of the
puzzle to help pay your education bill* *Tuesday 11/22 @
Noon*

Understanding education balances can be confusing. Whether
you're trying to address the costs or beginning to plan for higher
education, this review is for you. Join PHEAA representatives Linda
Pacewicz and Daniel Wray for a 1 hour webinar that will emphasize best
practices (such as seeking grants and scholarships first), remind
families about additional resources (such as payment plans), and
review private/alternative loans as a last resort in the process of
covering the gap and keeping balances affordable. The discussion will
also include the basics of credit, what factors impact a credit score,
how can a credit score be improved and the effects on your borrowing
capability.

Register at Financial Aid Webinars (pheaa.org) [link
11].

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[link 12]

*Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund*

Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) [link 13] has increased the maximum caps
on funding for the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF)
[link 14]. The increase in funding means more eligible households will
receive help paying past due mortgages and other homeowner expenses!
PAHAF was created to support Pennsylvania homeowners whose household
income is at or below 150% of the area median income (AMI) and who are
facing COVID-19 pandemic-related financial hardships. PAHAF programs
include mortgage reinstatement assistance, forward mortgage payment
assistance, housing property charges assistance, and utility payment
assistance to avoid displacement.

Eligible homeowners must have
experienced a reduction in income or increase in living expenses due
to the COVID-19 pandemic after January 21, 2020 (including a hardship
that began before January 21, 2020 but continued after that date).
They also must currently own and occupy their home in Pennsylvania as
their primary residence. In addition, the program has specific income
requirements to be eligible. To see the full list of eligibility
requirements, visit Am I Eligible? | Pennsylvania Homeowners
Assistance Fund (pahaf.org) [link 15].

For complete information on
PAHAF programs go to
www.pahaf.org [link 16] or call the PAHAF call
center at 888-987-2423.

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*Coats for Kids!*

*Saturday, November 19, 10 am - 2
pm*

Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire's [link 18] Coats for Kids is back!
After fundraising all year and generous donations from MSA [link
19],
Pittsburgh Penguins [link 20], and Duquesne Light Company [link
21], the Pittsburgh Bureau of Fire raised over $40,000 to buy coats
for local children in grades K-5 who are in need!

The in-person
coat distribution event will be held on Saturday, November 19th from
10am - 2pm at Pittsburgh Firefighters Local No. 1 Union Hall (120
Flowers Ave., Pittsburgh, 15207) for children in grades K-5. Children
must be present to receive coats.

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*Silverlake
Walking Trail Project in Harrison*

Harrison Township [link 22]
residents will be able to enjoy a new walking trail soon! Last week
the Township announced it is moving forward with plans to construct a
walking trail around Silverlake, a long-forgotten recreational spot
between Allegheny Valley Hospital and Route 28. Funding for the trail
will be provided by a 2017 grant from the PA Department of Community &
Economic Development [link 23]. The trail will start off of Carlisle
Street and wind its way through the wooded valley to the lake.

Read
more at Harrison unearthing 'hidden gem' of Silverlake | TribLIVE.com
[link 24].

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*Mary
Ellen Ramage - 45 Years with Etna!*

Last Monday was the 45th
anniversary of Mary Ellen Ramage's service to the Borough of Etna
[link 25]. We are so fortunate to know and work with Mary Ellen and we
congratulate her on her many accomplishments.

You can read about
many of Mary Ellen's contributions to Etna at : Mary Ellen Ramage,
Champion of Sustainability, celebrates 45 years with Etna Borough
(etnacommunity.org) [link 26].

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As
always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have
by phone at 412-364-0469 [link 27] (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 [link
28] (Harrison Office) or by email at
[email protected] [link 29]. My staff will return
your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday).

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Senator
Lindsey Williams

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mailto:[email protected]

Contact
Information:

Website:
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Office Location:
District
Office
5000 McKnight Road
Suite 405
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone:
412-364-0469
Fax: 412-364-0928

Harrison Office
1826 Union
Avenue
Natrona Heights, PA 15065
Phone: 724-224-2131
Fax:
724-224-2145

Harrisburg Office
366 Capitol Building
Senate Box
203038
Harrisburg, PA 17120-3038
Phone: 717-787-6538
Fax:
717-787-8625

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