PA Homeowner Assistance Program Increases Funding Cap
The Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund, or PAHAF, is a housing-related program to assist Pennsylvania homeowners facing financial hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The program will provide financial assistance to homeowners for qualified mortgage and housing-related expenses to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure, or displacement. The maximum amount of
PA Housing Alliance Recognizes Pastor of The Welcome Church with Frontline Leader Award
The Rev. Violet Little, pastor of The Welcome Church in Southeastern Pennsylvania Synod, was recognized with the Frontline Leader Award at the state’s Homes Within Reach Conference. More than 800 attended the conference, hosted by the Housing Alliance of PA, of which LAMPa is a member. The award recognizes those
Heating Assistance Grant Applications Now Open
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 in immediate danger of being without heat can also qualify for crisis grants. The cash grant is a one-time payment sent directly to the utility
PA Department of Health Shares Survey to Advance Health Equity
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is gathering citizen input to improve health equity. Regional health equity action teams have developed surveys that are open until Dec. 31 to identify and prioritize the most severe health issues experienced in your communities, such as; chronic disease, environmental hazards, community violence, substance use disorder, and
Join Stand Against Christian Nationalism
Christian Nationalism identifies human-made governments as lockstep with God’s will and seeks to privilege Christians, typically only white Christians. This type of ideology is not only dangerous but distorts the difference between holding government accountable to God as opposed to identified strictly with God’s will. Bishop Eaton has issued a
LAMPa Welcomes The Rev. Erin Jones to Policy Council
LAMPa's Policy Council welcomes the Rev. Erin Jones as a new representative from Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod. She serves as the pastor of the Hot Metal Bridge Faith Community (HMBFC) on the South Side of Pittsburgh. HMBFC is a joint Presbyterian Church (USA) and United Methodist Church congregation, which Erin gladly
Blanket the Capitol and Cover the Homeless With Care
Everyone deserves a safe place to call home. Yet, for many in our country, that has become increasingly impossible. A severe shortage of affordable housing has forced many not just into shelters and unstable and unsafe housing, but also into the streets. "In many communities, unsheltered homelessness is increasing, leaving
Draft Social Message on Climate Crisis Ready for Comments
A “Draft of a Social Message on Earth’s Climate Crisis” now is posted for public comment and feedback. You can read the social message draft here and then use this survey to share your input by Dec. 2. Public input helps inform revision of the draft that is sent then
LAMPa Policy Council Gathers to Learn, Grow Community
The Laurel Highlands served as a beautiful backdrop for LAMPa's Policy Council retreat at Camp Sequanota in September. The council, which began a new term Sept. 1, heard updates on legislative action and began discussion of possible policy priorities for the next term, based on what they are witnessing in
LAMPa’s Policy Council Welcomes New Member from SWPA Synod
LAMPa’s Policy Council welcomes Jim Needles as a representative from Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod. A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh with a degree in software engineering, Needles has worked for multinational corporations, several start-ups and non-profit service agencies. He currently serves as chief information officer for Familylinks Inc., an
