October 30, 2018
Each year, approximately 45,000 rapid re-housing placements are available to assist homeless families into rental housing and to connect them with services. For families with higher needs, approximately 7,500 units of permanent supportive housing are also available each year. These are vital resources but are no match for the 150,000 families who become homeless each year. Without appropriate permanent housing resources, homeless service systems can’t do their jobs: shelter beds fill...
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October 30, 2018
A new report released by the Housing Alliance called “Revitalizing Pennsylvania” looks at ways towns and cities across the state have successfully turned around blighted properties and recommends ways others can do the same in the future. “How do we really create communities where people are proud to live there and want to live there?”...
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October 22, 2018
PennEnvironment recently released a new consumer guide to help Pennsylvanians conserve energy and reduce wasted energy in their homes and businesses. There’s a lot that each of us can do to reduce energy use. Encourage your neighbors, family and friends to make changes as well. There are also things we can do as a community to...
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September 17, 2018
Certain low-income Pennsylvanians can now apply for General Assistance again. On July 18, 2018, the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania, in a unanimous decision, found that Act 80 of 2012 was enacted in a manner that violated the Pennsylvania Constitution. Act 80 did many things, including eliminating the General Assistance (GA) cash assistance program. General Assistance...
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June 21, 2018
Four ELCA Synods in Pennsylvania voted to pass resolutions regarding social justice issues at their recent assembly gatherings. The Lower Susquehanna Synod, meeting at Messiah College, May 31 – June 1, 2018, adopted a resolution regarding homelessness. The Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, meeting at Thiel College, June 15-16, 2018, adopted a resolution on migrant minors and...
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May 11, 2016
LAMPa applauds the recommendations laid out in the new Joint State Government Commission study addressing homelessness in Pennsylvania, particularly the emphasis on homelessness prevention as well as early intervention to address long-term effects of homelessness on children and youth. In 2014, LAMPa advocates successfully pressed for the creation of the task force to undertake the study. LAMPa and other Housing...
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November 10, 2015
On November 4 Governor Tom Wolf yesterday signed into law an expansion of the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Act (PHARE), the State’s Housing Trust Fund. Act 58 of 2015 makes way for safe, affordable homes for Pennsylvanian in all 67 counties and creating economic opportunities in the process create. PHARE provides funds to...
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June 4, 2015
On June 2, HB 792, the bill to expand the Housing Trust Fund, was passed out of the House unanimously, with a vote of 195 to 0. We are excited about the great momentum around this bill, and we are that much closer to having more resources for affordable housing throughout the Commonwealth. Thank you to all...
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April 14, 2015
The Housing Trust Fund bill, HB 792, is out of the starting gate, having had a unanimous vote by the House Urban Affairs Committee on April 13. Thank you to the LAMPa Advocates who contacted their legislators on that committee. The bill then had its first reading on the floor of the House immediately after...
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September 9, 2014
We’re making progress toward ensuring that all counties benefit from the State Housing Trust Fund (PHARE). Thanks to your efforts, 22 state Senators and 24 Representatives are now cosponsors of the Housing Trust Fund bills, SB 1380 and HB 2434. SB 1380 was voted out of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, and HB 2434 is ready for a...
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