Community & Government Announcements
Low Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP)
LIHWAP is a new, temporary emergency water and wastewater assistance program created by the federal government to assist low-income households with their drinking water and wastewater bills, particularly those who have experienced financial difficulties. Funding is available for use through September 2023, or until the funds run out.
Pennsylvania homeowners or renters may be eligible to receive LIHWAP benefits if their household income does not exceed the state’s 2021-2022 income guidelines. Customers are encouraged to visit the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services website for detailed information on the program, eligibility requirements, and application instructions.
Pennsylvania residents who participate or have family members who participate in certain other benefit programs — such as SNAP, SSI, and TANF — automatically meet the state’s eligibility requirements. All qualifying state residents can visit Pennsylvania’s Compass website to apply for water assistance.
Chester County 2020 Census Data Now Available
In September 2021, the U.S. Census Bureau released selected state, county, and municipal level data from the 2020 Census. Because these data were released in a technically complex format, Chester County Planning Commission (CCPC) staff converted key data sets to an easy-to-use Excel data file, which is accessible here. This downloadable data sheet provides municipal-level data addressing total population, age, housing units, population density, group quarters (such as nursing facilities and university dorms), race, and Hispanic or Latino populations.
Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program Now Accepting Applications
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is accepting applications for its cash, crisis, and weatherization grants. If you have questions about eligibility, visit here or call the Chester County Assistance Office at 610-466-1042.
Pennsylvania’s Open Enrollment Period Begins for 2022 Healthcare Coverage
The Open Enrollment Period for health coverage through Pennie, Pennsylvania’s state-based health insurance marketplace, is open now through December 15. Pennsylvanians needing health insurance coverage should visit www.pennie.com to learn more and to explore options.
October Food Pantry & Meal Locations in Phoenixville
The Phoenixville Food Insecurity Team’s (PFIT) calendar of food pantry and meal locations for Phoenixville is below:
Melissa Threadgill (she/hers)
Program and Community Relations Coordinator
Phoenixville Area Community Services (PACS)
101 Buchanan Street
Phoenixville, PA 19460
610-933-1105, ext. 202
Visit our website – www.pacsphx.org
Like PACS on Facebook
Comment Period Opens for PennDOT Long-Range Transportation and Freight Movement Plans
The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) has opened the public review and comment period for the Pennsylvania 2045 Long-Range Transportation Plan and Freight Movement Plan. Access the plans and online feedback form at www.penndot.gov/planning.
Chester County Public Preparedness Guide Now Available
The Chester County Department of Emergency Services has put together a comprehensive Preparedness Guide for all Chester County residents, to help you to be as ready as possible in the event of an emergency – from severe weather safety, to emergencies at school, when to call 9-1-1, and even emergency planning for your pets. Access the guide online here.
Pennsylvania/FEMA Disaster Center Open in Chester County
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania/FEMA Disaster Recovery Center located at Ashbridge Square Shopping Center, 945 East Lancaster Avenue, Downingtown will open on Monday, September 20, 2021 at 1:00 p.m. to help those whose homes or personal property were affected by the remnants of Hurricane Ida between August 31 -September 5, 2021.
The disaster center location and hours are as follows:
Ashbridge Square Shopping Center
945 E Lancaster Ave
Downingtown, PA
Hours of Operation:
Monday to Friday: 10 a.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Saturday: 10:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Disaster Recovery Centers provide disaster survivors with information from Pennsylvania state agencies, FEMA and the U.S. Small Business Administration. Survivors can get help applying for federal assistance, learn about the types of assistance available, learn about the appeals process and get updates on applications.
Visiting a Disaster Recovery Center is not required to register with FEMA. To register:
- Call the FEMA Helpline at 800-621-3362. Multilingual operators are available. Persons who are deaf, hard of hearing or have a speech disability and use a TTY may call 800-462-7585. If you use 711 or VRS (Video Relay Service) or require accommodations while visiting a center, call 800-621-3362. The toll-free numbers are open daily from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.
- Help is available in most languages, and information on the registration process is available in ASL at gov/media-library/assets/videos/111546.
- Go online to gov (also in Spanish);
- Download the FEMA mobile app (also in Spanish), also available at Google Play or the Apple App Store.
Disaster Recovery Centers are accessible to people with disabilities. They have assistive technology equipment that allows disaster survivors to use amplified telephones, phones that display text, amplified listening devices for people with hearing loss, and magnifiers for people with vision loss. Video Remote Interpreting is available and in-person sign language is available by request. The centers also have accessible parking, ramps and restrooms.
FEMA’s Individual Assistance program is designed to help survivors with immediate essential needs and to help displaced survivors find a safe, functional place to live temporarily until they can return home. Many survivors may have additional needs beyond what can be provided by FEMA. The agency works closely with state, federal, faith-based and voluntary agencies to help match survivors who have remaining needs with other sources of assistance.
For updates on the Pennsylvania response and recovery, follow the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency twitter.com/PEMAHQ on Twitter and Facebook https://m.facebook.com/PEMAHQ/. Additional information is available at fema.gov/disaster/4618.
For information about SBA’s disaster assistance, call 800-659-2955, email disastercustomerservice@sba.gov, or visit SBA’s website at SBA.gov/disaster. Deaf and hard of hearing individuals may call 800-877-8339.
Legal Aid Assistance with Hurricane Ida Recovery
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania (LASP) is available to provide technical and legal assistance to Chester County residents impacted by Hurricane Ida. LASP staff can offer guidance on the following:
- Landlord/tenant matters
- Situations where tenants do not have a written lease
- Researching renters’ and flood insurance
- Custody concerns for displaced families
- Replacement of lost documents, including birth certificates, Social Security cards, home deeds, and similar items
Those seeking assistance from LASP must contact LASP and open a file. Individuals can call the LASP office directly at 610-436-4510 for Hurricane Ida related issues rather than going through the helpline, which will allow them to get help faster.
FEMA announced that federal disaster assistance has been made available to the commonwealth of Pennsylvania to supplement commonwealth and local recovery efforts in the areas affected by Hurricane Ida from Aug. 31 to Sept. 5, 2021.
FEMA Registration Flyer English and Spanish
The President’s action makes federal funding available to affected individuals in Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery, Philadelphia and York counties. Assistance can include grants for temporary housing and home repairs, low-cost loans to cover uninsured property losses and other programs to help individuals and business owners recover from the effects of Hurricane Ida.
Bucks, Chester, Delaware and Montgomery counties are part of FEMA’s Hurricane Ida disaster declaration:
FEMA website (LOTS here, just sending a few links)
- FEMA webpage for PA storm: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4618
- FEMA fact sheets: https://www.fema.gov/about/news-multimedia/fact-sheets
- Linked on FEMA: Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency: https://www.pema.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx
- Linked on FEMA: https://www.fema.gov/about/organization/region-3
- Designated areas: https://www.fema.gov/disaster/4618/designated-areas
Other resources—
- Chester County Dept of Community Development Facebook post (9/14) Chester County Department of Community Development
- Delaware County (not current seeing an Ida webpage, but Delco is included in the disaster declaration)
- Montgomery County Ida webpage: https://montcopa.org/3878/Hurricane-Ida
- Bucks County Ida page: https://www.buckscounty.gov/1339/Hurricane-Ida-Updates
· Chester County Ida page: https://www.chesco.org/4996/Ida
Questions? Call the LASP office directly at 610-436-4510 for Hurricane Ida related issues rather than going through the helpline, which will allow them to get help faster.
Marion Hoffman Fraley
Communications Director | Legal Aid of Southeastern PA (LASP)
Office: 151 W. Marshall St. | Norristown, PA 19401
Mailing: 625 Swede St. | Norristown, PA 19401
New / direct: 484-212-5875 | 267-210-4503 mobile
https://www.lasp.org | Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn | Instagram
LIHEAP Pre-Application Submission Begins 9/13
The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) will begin accepting applications for its cash, crisis, and weatherization grants beginning on October 18, 2021 until May 6, 2022. However, recipients that received a LIHEAP preseason registration number for the 2021-2022 season will be able to submit their applications on COMPASS beginning September 13, 2021.
LIHEAP helps low income families pay heating bills in three ways:
- Cash grants: Assistance for heating bills ranging from $500 to $1,500.
- Crisis grants: Up to $1,200 for households that have an emergency and are in danger of being without heat.
- Emergency furnace/service line repair or replacement.
If you have questions about LIHEAP grants, call the Chester County Assistance Office at 610-466-1042.
Apply here: https://www.compass.state.pa.us/compass.web/Public/CMPHome