Human Services Local Updates
Emergency Rental Assistance Program
Venango County Community Support Services (CSS) has received Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. These funds will be used to assist the residents of Venango County who are struggling with rent and utilities due to a COVID-19.
If you are financially impacted by COVID-19 and currently rent your home, you may be eligible for past and future assistance on your rent and utility payments towards your past due utility bills. All applicants must meet specific income guidelines and demonstrate that they were affected by COVID-19 after March 13, 2020.
Online applications are available through COMPASS: https://www.compass.state.pa.us
To access the application on COMPASS, a link for ERAP will be made available under “What We Offer” in the top menu bar.
Paper applications are available by contacting Community Support Services (CSS) at 814-432-9767 or by stopping into the office at 1 Dale Avenue, Franklin, PA 16323, to pick one up. A printable version of the application is also available here: Click for Printable Application
Questions may be directed to Kit Woods or Terri Mucio at 814-432-9767.
ERAP Program State Guidelines
Emergency rental assistance will be offered to eligible individuals and households in Venango County who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and someone in the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19, has demonstrated a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and has a household income that is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income. With priority given to rental households that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI.
Emergency utility and home energy assistance to be offered to individuals and households who are rental households within the county who have utility and home energy obligations , including electricity, gas, water/sewer, trash removal and heating and the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19, has demonstrated a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and has a household income that is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income. All utilities will need to be in the household members name or be able to prove that they are the person responsible for payment. This proof can be in the form of rental lease, utility bill, statement from the utility provider that the individual was making payments on the account prior to COVID-19. With priority given to rental households that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI.
The following definition has been established to assist the agency in qualifying COVID-19 related to rental households who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability:
Assistance is available for rental households with an obligation to pay rent on a residential dwelling or utility and home energy obligations:
- One or more members who qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly to job loss or reduction of hours and unable to find employment
- Individuals who need to terminate employment due to school closures, homeschooling, or caring for disabled or persons vulnerable to COVID-19
- Households with one or more members who demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability
- Households with an annual or monthly household income up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the household. With priority given to household that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI
Documentation Requirements: A grantee must document that one or more members of the applicant’s household either:
Qualified for unemployment benefits
Experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak.
Written and clause for this determination is permitted and must be either a written attestation signed by the applicant that one or more members of the household meet this condition or other relevant documentation regarding the household member’s qualification for unemployment benefits. If the grantee is relying on clause the applicant will be required to provide documentation that one or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability,
- A past due or termination of their utility or rental eviction notice, a letter from a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter or similar type of programs.
- Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions – letter from physician, code enforcement officer or support staff i.e. case manager, Social Service agency.
- Any other evidence of risk, as determined by the grantee.
- If the applicant is unable to provide the above documentation they must attest in writing a signed document stating they are unable to provide this and they understand that payment of assistance will be up to a monthly maximum of 100% of the Fair Market Rent or the Small Area Market Rent for which they reside. Applicants must also attest that they have not received and does not anticipate receiving, another source of public or private subsidy or assistance for the rental costs.
Water Bill Assistance
Transportation
FREE TAX ASSISTANCE - CHANGE IN TAX FILING DATE TO MAY 17, 2021.
Since the federal tax season has been extended until May 17, 2021, the Senior Volunteer Program of Venango County, in conjunction with the AARP Tax-Aide Program, will take appointments again for free tax preparation services.
Tax counselors who have been certified and trained through the Internal Revenue Service will complete income tax returns for 2020.
Help will be available between 8 a.m. and 3 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays at First Baptist Church in Franklin. People may call (814) 346-1827 to make an appointment.
Other spots will be available from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays at the Cranberry Mall. Appointments can be made by calling (814) 346-1610.
No walk-ins will be permitted. Everyone who participates must make an appointment.
Participants must take their Social Security cards, photo identification, their 2019 tax return and all documents pertaining to health insurance from the Marketplace for 2020.
The tax counselors will prepare federal, state and local forms as well as state tax rent/rebate forms for those who take rent receipts or stamped "paid" tax receipts.
Face masks will be required for anyone who makes an appointment.
New 10-digit dialing to begin April 3, 2021
Residents in the current 814 area code are being encouraged to prepare for the start of required 10-digit dialing for all telephone calls in April, the Pennsylvania Utility Commission (PUC) announced Wednesday.
Mandatory 10-digit dialing for all phone calls will begin Saturday, April 3, 2021.
The beginning of the required 10-digit dialing will mark the next major step toward the arrival of the new 582 "overlay" area code. The overlay area code will be assigned to new telephone numbers once the current supply of numbers in the 814 area code runs out.
Effective April 3, people making phone calls in the 814 area code using only seven digits will receive a recorded message prompting them to hang up and redial the call using the full ten-digit number.
PUC officials say to prepare for 10-digit dialing, consumers and businesses are encouraged to check devices that store telephone numbers – including cell phones and other devices with “speed dial” functions – to be certain that all the stored contacts include the area code. Moving forward, when adding any new numbers to those devices, be sure the area code is included.
PUC officials say the following devices that should be checked to verify they are configured for 10-digit dialing, including:
- Mobile phones, landline phones & tablets and fax machines that can save/store phone numbers
- Life-safety & medical alert systems
- Alarm/security systems and security gates
- Call-forwarding settings & voicemail services
- Internet dial-up systems
- Automatic dialing equipment & software
- Speed-dialers
- Any other device that can save, store and automatically dial phone numbers
- Consumers or businesses with questions about the compatibility or programming of their devices should contact their equipment or service providers
Key dates:
- October 3, 2020 – Beginning of voluntary 10-digit dialing for calls in the 814 area code
- April 3, 2021 – 10-digit dialing will be required for all calls
- May 1, 2021 – The new overlay area code will be placed into service (New area code numbers will not be assigned until available 814 numbers are exhausted)
The 814 area code is one of Pennsylvania's four original area codes and includes all of parts of 27 counties and cities such as Erie, Altoona, Johnstown and State College.
WEBINAR SERIES
Register for Upcoming Webinars by clicking the link:
April
- April 8, 2021, 2:30 to 4 p.m. ET: Rev. Toneh Smyth, Moral Injury: Invisible Wounds and Unspoken Words, register now: http://bit.ly/39fqdWj
- April 22, 2021, 2:30 to 4 p.m. ET: Diane Wagenhals and Sandra Bloom, Ph.D., What's the Big Deal About Trauma? register now: http://bit.ly/3a0rZcP
May is Mental Health Awareness Month
Beacon Health Options
May Speakers