Pennsylvania Leading the Nation in Student Homelessness Increase
A newly released report shows that homelessness among children and youth is increasing dramatically in Pennsylvania while rising unevenly in other states during the 2018-19 school year (SY). PEC reviewed the report from the National Center for Homeless Education called Federal Data Summary School Years 2017 - 2019, and summarized
Housing Advocacy Still Needed, Even as CDC Eviction Moratorium Remains
UPDATE: "The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia ruled on June 2 that it would continue to stay a lower court ruling seeking to overturn the CDC eviction moratorium. This latest ruling leaves the moratorium in-place, so that millions of households behind on their rent continue to
New Data Reveals Extent of Students Experiencing Homelessness
More and more of Pennsylvania’s school-age children were experiencing homelessness even before the pandemic, according to a newly released report by the Pennsylvania Department of Education. The study accumulates the locally reported totals of homeless children under five and those enrolled in pre-K through twelfth grade across eight regions of
LIHEAP Closes on April 30th
The 2020-2021 Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program is open. The season has been extended and is now set to close on April 30th. "The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) helps families living on low incomes pay their heating bills in the form of a cash grant. Households
RISE PA Stakeholder Webinars Announced
The Pa. Department of Human Services (DHS) is planning a series of webinars to introduce the Resource Information and Services Enterprise – or RISE PA – an upcoming statewide resource and referral tool that will enable advocates and individuals in need to more quickly identify appropriate service providers, including social ministry
Administration Releases New Guidance for Emergency Rental Assistance Program
The U.S. Department of the Treasury released guidelines and a new FAQ to help states and communities quickly distribute more than $25 billion in emergency rental assistance to renters in need. The revised FAQ directly addresses the significant flaws in the guidance issued by the previous administration. Pennsylvania's rental assistance program, whose
Act 1 Creates New Rental and Utility Assistance Program To Disburse Millions in Federal Aid
On Friday, Feb. 5, Gov. Tom Wolf signed into law SB109, now known as Act 1, directing more than $900 million in federal pandemic aid to struggling businesses, private schools, landlords and tenants unable to meet rent or utility bills because of economic downturn related to the failure to stop the spread
Education Top Priority in Governor’s 2021 Budget Proposal
Gov. Wolf continued to place education at the forefront of his agenda with a his 2021 budget proposal in an effort to close the gaps in one of the least equitable school funding systems in the country, increase affordability of college education and job training. The budget, outlined in an
Utility Moratorium Updates: What You Need to Know
On March 31, 2021 the utility shutoff moratorium protecting vulnerable Pennsylvanians from service termination will expire. With moratoria in place since the beginning of the pandemic, customers had been protected from losing their utility services. With many if not more Pennsylvanians still suffering from the economic downturn, the prospect of an unrenewed moratorium is daunting. When the initial
ELCA 2021 federal policy priorities for advocacy action
Posted on January 22, 2021 by ELCA Advocacy “With the start of the 117th Congress and a new administration, and as the devastating COVID-19 pandemic influences our lives and shapes our concerns, we face pressing need for national policy action. Yet even with changes, as Christians in the world our
