ALLEGHENY COUNTY
RECEIVES $175,000
PHARE GRANT FOR
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM
$39 million into Pennsylvania communities,
in addition to nearly $255 million of other
leveraged funding.
For more information, or to apply
for the program, contact Andrew Shull
Allegheny County Economic Development at 412.281.2102.
(ACED) has received a $175,000 grant from
the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund. EMERGENCY
The fund is administered by the Pennsylvania SERVICES LAUNCHES
Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The grant
INTERACTIVE APP
will allow ACED to provide accessibility
modifications to residents of the county who
Allegheny County
have permanent physical disabilities with
Emergency Services
low to moderate incomes. Working with its
(ACES) announced
partner, ACTION-Housing, Inc., ACED
that it now has an
expects to be able to provide modifications for
interactive app
19 households.
designed to improve
The United Way of Allegheny County
communication,
recently commissioned a study by ACTION- emergency preparedness and resiliency for
Housing, Inc. and Regional Housing
Allegheny County citizens. The ACES app is
Legal Services that helped define this gap.
available for both iPhone and Android devices
According to data from the U.S. Housing and and can be downloaded for free through
Urban Development and PHFA, there are
online app stores.
twice as many Allegheny County residents
“As we mark the end of National
with a disability than housing units to serve
Emergency Preparedness Month, it is
them. Every accessible modification will
very fitting that we finalize our monthlong
preserve a unit of affordable housing, allow
outreach efforts with the announcement of
the resident of that unit to stay in a housing
our ACES app,” said Chief Matt Brown. “The
situation that is safe and comfortable, and
app provides yet another resource for learning
prevent any further stress on an already
and organizing our individual efforts in
inadequate supply of affordable housing.
emergency preparedness for all hazards.”
“We are thankful to PHFA for providing the
The ACES app includes five sub-menus
$175,000 in PHARE funds that will enable us with information for the public: 911
to work with our partner, ACTION-Housing, Communications, Emergency Management,
Inc.,” said ACED Director Bob Hurley.
Emergency Medical Services, Fire
“Together, we can help make homes for
Academy and Fire Marshal. Under the 911
Allegheny County residents with disabilities
Communications menu, users can call or text
safe and sound.”
911, sign up for the special needs registry,
Applicants for the program will need to
and submit a tip to alert county officials of
have a clinically or medically documented
an emergency, environmental issue, arson/
disability, and all modifications will either be fire safety problem, or other situation. Users
directly related to a) that disability, or b) a
can also subscribe to emergency alerts,
health and safety barrier that would inhibit a
set up an “I’m OK” emergency notifier,
medically necessary modification. ACTION- and check off items in their emergency
Housing will work with the participants to
kit. Information on traffic, power outages,
create a scope of work that will ensure the
local weather, preparedness guidance, and
project is completed consistent with their
emergency shelter locations can be found
physical needs. The organization will also
under Emergency Management, while the
provide initial and final inspections, and
Emergency Medical Services menu includes
oversee construction.
answers to frequently asked questions and a
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance
complete list of EMS agencies.
Agency made its announcement on
The ACES mobile app can aid in
Oct. 13, approving $6.2 million for 40
preparation before and in the event of an
housing projects to improve the availability
emergency. If you experience an emergency,
and affordability of housing in 29 counties.
please always dial 911 if possible, as it is still
This is the fifth year for the PHARE
the best way to get assistance. n
program, which has invested more than
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