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!
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!
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 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.**
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.
Allegheny
County Rehabilitation Program is Accepting
Applications!
Earlier this month, my
colleagues Jay
Costa, Innamorato, and I announced the creation of the Allegheny
County Rehabilitation Program 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:
- Eligible Projects:
- Infrastructure repairs;
-
Accessibility accommodations;
- Weatherization of aging
homes.
- Eligibility:
- Allegheny
County families at or below 80%
of AMI, or $75,850 for a family of 4.
-
Application Options:
Sharpsburg
expected to benefit from $2 million state grant for older home repairs
| TribLIVE.com
Upcoming
PHEAA Financial Aid Webinars
As families
move closer to 2023-2024 planning for postsecondary education, the Pennsylvania
Higher Education Assistance Agency (PHEAA) 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!
- 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.
- 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).
Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance
Fund
Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has increased the maximum caps on
funding for the Pennsylvania
Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF). 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).
For complete information on PAHAF programs go
to www.pahaf.org
or call the PAHAF call center at 888-987-2423.
Coats
for Kids!
Saturday, November 19, 10 am - 2
pm
Pittsburgh
Bureau of Fire’s Coats for Kids is back! After fundraising
all year and generous donations from MSA,
Pittsburgh
Penguins, and Duquesne
Light Company, 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.
Silverlake
Walking Trail Project in Harrison
Harrison
Township 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. 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.
Mary Ellen
Ramage - 45 Years with Etna!
Last Monday was
the 45th anniversary of Mary Ellen Ramage’s service to the Borough
of Etna. 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).
As always, please
feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469
(Ross Office), 724-224-2131
(Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected].
My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours
(Monday-Friday).
Senator Lindsey Williams
