Department of Human Services (DHS) Secretary Teresa Miller today
encouraged Pennsylvanians who have been affected financially by the
COVID-19 public-health crisis to take advantage of programs designed to
help with rent payments and utility bills. Miller also advised of the
upcoming July 12 deadline to apply for the Emergency Assistance Program,
a one-time cash assistance program for families and pregnant women who
have lost income or employment due to COVID-19.
The Emergency Assistance Program (EAP) helps low-income families who
lost wages and are experiencing financial challenges due to the COVID-19
pandemic. The program uses existing federal Temporary Assistance for
Needy Families (TANF) funds and is open to families with a child under
the age of 18 or a woman who is currently pregnant. Families who qualify
for EAP will be eligible for a one-time payment to assist them in
meeting their financial needs.
Applications are due by July 12. More information on the program and
eligibility is available at
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/Coronavirus-Emergency-Assistance-Program.aspx/
DHS is releasing $10 million through the CARES Act to Pennsylvania
counties for the County Homeless Assistance Program (HAP). HAP is a
program that offers rental assistance, emergency shelter and supportive
housing services to more than 28,000 individuals and families
experiencing or at risk for homelessness prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.
More information on HAP can be found at
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/Services/Other-Services/Pages/Homeless-Assistance.aspx.
County HAP contacts are available at
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/contact/Pages/Homeless-Assistance-Contacts.aspx.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) is offering
housing-related financial assistance. Applications are available at
www.PHFA.org for both rental and mortgage assistance (look for the red
CARES banner). All 67 counties have local organizations helping PHFA by
processing the rent relief applications. PHFA will process the mortgage
relief applications.
The Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) has clarified that utility
shutoff moratoriums are in effect until Gov. Wolf’s disaster order is
lifted. Utility assistance, however, is still available.
DHS administers the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
Crisis Recovery Program, which provides assistance for home energy
bills, helping ensure continuity of utility and other energy services
for low-income Pennsylvanians. The LIHEAP Recovery Crisis Program offers
a crisis benefit for households that received a crisis payment made
directly to utility companies or fuel providers to help offset costs for
home utilities.
More information is available at
https://www.dhs.pa.gov/providers/Providers/Pages/LIHEAP-Recovery-Crisis-Program.aspx.
The electric and natural gas utilities that PUC oversees offer Customer
Assistance Programs (CAPs), under which qualifying low-income customers
pay discounted bills. Qualification in CAP programs is based on
household size and gross household income. Utilities also have a variety
of other options to help consumers.
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