ALLEGHENY COUNTY
RECEIVES $175,000
PHARE GRANT FOR
ACCESSIBILITY PROGRAM
Allegheny County Economic Development
(ACED) has received a $175,000 grant from
the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and
Rehabilitation Enhancement (PHARE) fund.
The fund is administered by the Pennsylvania
Housing Finance Agency (PHFA). The grant
will allow ACED to provide accessibility
modifications to residents of the county
who have permanent physical disabilities
with low to moderate incomes. Working
with its partner, ACTION-Housing, Inc.,
ACED expects to be able to
provide modifications for
19 households.
The United Way of
Allegheny County recently
commissioned a study by
ACTION-Housing, Inc.
and Regional Housing
Legal Services that helped
define this gap. According to data from the
U.S. Housing and Urban Development and
PHFA, there are twice as many Allegheny
County residents with a disability than
housing units to serve them.
Every accessible modification will
preserve a unit of affordable housing, allow
the resident of that unit to stay in a housing
situation that is safe and comfortable, and
prevent any further stress on an already
inadequate supply of affordable housing.
“We are thankful to PHFA for providing the
$175,000 in PHARE funds that will enable us
to work with our partner ACTION-Housing,
Inc.,” said ACED Director Bob Hurley.
“Together, we can help make homes for
Allegheny County residents with disabilities
safe and sound.”
Applicants for the program will need to
have a clinically or medically documented
disability, and all modifications will either be
directly related to a) that disability, or b) a
health and safety barrier that would inhibit a
medically necessary modification. ACTIONHousing will work with the participants to
create a scope of work that will ensure the
project is completed consistent with their
physical needs. The organization will also
provide initial and final inspections, and
oversee construction.
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance
Agency made its announcement on Oct.
13, approving $6.2 million for 40 housing
projects to improve the availability and
affordability of housing in 29 counties. This
is the fifth year for the PHARE program,
which has invested more than $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 at
412.281.2102.
ALLEGHENY COUNTY
EMERGENCY SERVICES
LAUNCHES INTERACTIVE
APP
Allegheny County Emergency Services
(ACES) announced that it now has an
interactive app designed to improve
communication, emergency preparedness
and resiliency for Allegheny County
citizens. The ACES app is available for both
iPhone and Android devices and can be
downloaded for free through online app
stores. “As we mark the end of National
Emergency Preparedness Month, it is
very fitting that we finalize our monthlong
outreach efforts with the announcement
of our ACES app,” said Chief Matt Brown.
“The app provides yet another resource
for learning and organizing our individual
efforts in emergency preparedness for all
hazards.” The ACES app includes five submenus with information
for the public: 911
Communications,
Emergency
Management,
Emergency
Medical Services,
Fire Academy and
Fire Marshal. Under
the 911 Communications
menu, users can call or text 911, sign up for
the special needs registry, and submit a tip
to alert county officials of an emergency,
environmental issue, arson/fire safety
problem, or other situation. Users can
also subscribe to emergency alerts, set
up an “I’m OK” emergency notifier, and
check-off items in their emergency kit.
Information on traffic, power outages,
local weather, preparedness guidance, and
emergency shelter locations can be found
under Emergency Management, while the
Emergency Medical Services menu includes
answers to frequently asked questions and a
complete list of EMS agencies.
The ACES mobile app can aid in
preparation before and in the event of an
emergency. If you experience an emergency,
please always dial 911 if possible, as it is still
the best way to get assistance. n
West Mifflin | Winter 2016 | icmags.com 7