HARRISBURG – September 8, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D-Allegheny) announced today that over $2,615,616 million in grant funding has been awarded to area programs to address gun violence, opioid use, and community crime prevention programs.
“I am pleased that numerous organizations in Allegheny County have received much needed funding to address issues of crime, drug use, and violence within their communities. We must empower folks on the ground to address these issues among their peers and in their own communities to prevent future generations of engaging in the same harmful patterns,” Costa said.
The grant funding is awarded through the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD).
The following organizations have been awarded funding through PCCD programs:
- Brothers and Sisters Emerging – Community Programs – $150,000 Awarded through the JJDPC State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Program Funds
- Three Rivers Youth Inc. – LifeSkills Training Planning Project – $100,000 Awarded through the JJDPC Federal State Opioid Response (SOR) Funds
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Allegheny County Jail MAT Methadone Program – $150,000 Awarded through the CJAC Opioid Response Funds
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Latent Prints Continuous Improvement Project– $9,853 Awarded through the CJAC Byrne Justice Assistance Grant Funds
- Allegheny County Office of the Medical Examiner – Firearms Examination Initiative – $224,945 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Allegheny Intermediate Unit – School- based and Community Outreach Program – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Center for Victims – Family and Community Support Team Funding – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Community Empowerment Association, Inc. – Gun Violence Prevention and Community-based Outreach Efforts – $225,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Greater Valley Community Services – Violence Prevention in Braddock and Surrounding Areas – $200,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Healthy Village Learning Institute – Proactive Prevention and Intervention Processes through the P.O.W.E.R. (Positive Outcomes With Excuses Removed) Prevention Program – $211,680 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- South Pittsburgh Coalition for Peace – Peacemakers Street Outreach Intervention Initiative – $220,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- The Center that CARES – Enhancing the REACH Initiative Prevention Program – $220,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Voices Against Violence – Programing for Street Mediation, Conflict Resolution, and Restorative Justice Practices – $177,000 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Legacy Arts Project – Drums Not Guns Youth Art Apprenticeship Program – $205,750 Awarded through the Gun Violence Reduction Grant Program
- Allegheny County Chief Executive Officer – Decreasing Gun Violence through the CURE Model – $71, 388 Awarded through the CJAC Gun Violence Reduction Funds
More information about PCCD and their grant funding can be found at pccd.pa.gov.
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Harrisburg, PA − August 23, 2021 − Senator Nikil Saval (D–Philadelphia), Senator Jay Costa (D–Allegheny), Senator Vincent Hughes (D–Philadelphia/Montgomery), and Senator Art Haywood (D–Philadelphia/Montgomery) today announced their plans for legislation to keep struggling Pennsylvanians housed. This sweeping legislation would pick up aid to Pennsylvania renters and homeowners where federal eviction and foreclosure moratoria left off.
The proposed legislation would require landlords seeking to evict tenants for nonpayment of rent to apply for relief from the Emergency Rental Assistance Program. In addition, courts with jurisdiction over the eviction process would be required to grant a continuance of 60 days, until a decision for the tenant’s rental assistance application is reached.
Mortgage servicers, similarly, would be required to inform borrowers of financial programs to help prevent foreclosure and to halt foreclosure proceedings until they are compliant with federal loss mitigation guidelines. The Office of the Attorney General would oversee claims from servicers that demonstrate difficulties with compliance.
“The eviction and foreclosure moratoria were never designed to permanently prevent the forced removal of people from their homes—these measures simply determined who would be evicted now and who would be evicted later on,” said Senator Saval. “Right now, our Commonwealth has $500 million in state rental assistance funds for struggling tenants and $350 million in federal funds for struggling homeowners. If we act swiftly, we can prevent poverty-based evictions and foreclosures. Our legislation will be a blueprint to keep Pennsylvanians who have struggled for so long safe in their homes.”
“When Congress appropriated more than $1.5 billion in emergency rental assistance to the Commonwealth to address rent and utility delinquencies created due to the COVID-19 pandemic, very few counties had a rental assistance program ready for the sudden influx of money and that has caused significant delays in getting money to those who need it,” said Senator Costa. “We know the necessary funding is available to alleviate the economic stresses the pandemic has put on homeowners, landlords, and tenants alike, and through this legislation, we can ensure that people stay housed without it coming at the expense of landlords and mortgage companies. Knowing that evicting people from their homes is detrimental to our public health and can interfere with efforts to slow the ongoing pandemic, we need an all hands on deck approach to address this matter.”
“For the past 18 months, Pennsylvanians have endured compounding crises—the largest public health crisis in generations, layered on top of a decades-long housing crisis,” said Senator Hughes. “Our highest priority, as legislators, is the health and well-being of our people. In Philadelphia, we have seen first-hand that linking struggling tenants with rental assistance has drastically reduced the number of eviction filings. We need to extend these protections to people across the Commonwealth, and we are excited for our colleagues to add their support.”
“The Supreme Court may end the moratorium this week,” said Senator Haywood, noting that for Pennsylvania renters, the ever-present threat of eviction looms heavily on the horizon. “This legislation to protect Pennsylvania tenants and homeowners from eviction and foreclosure is critical.”
The announcement of the new legislation comes as COVID-19 cases around the United States climb to the highest levels seen since February 2021, near the height of the pandemic. A wave of panic struck renters when the previous eviction moratorium expired at the end of July.
Requiring landlords to apply for rental assistance as a precursor to filing eviction for nonpayment has a proven track record in Pennsylvania. This approach has been used as part of a successful eviction diversion program by the City of Philadelphia, which consequently saw the number of eviction filings drop by more than 75%. Through this process, both landlord and tenant are protected. The proposed state legislation would do the same for renters and extend similar protections to homeowners and mortgage servicers.
The need for this legislation is immense. Recent results from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s Household Pulse Surveys indicate that an average of 25.1% of U.S. renters reported being unable pay rent or worrying that they might not be able to do so in the next two months. An average of 8.1% of U.S. homeowners reported that they face foreclosure, and another 4.6% indicated they are behind on their mortgage payments.
The full co-sponsorship memo is available here.
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PITTSBURGH – August 4, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) announced today that 15 schools in his Senate district will receive funding through the Fresh Fruits and Vegetables Program (FFVP), awarded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture and distributed by the PA Dept. of Education.
“Making sure that kids are provided with the best possible food choices is not only essential to their physical health but plays a large role in the development and future trajectory of these students. These are the types of programs that truly benefit our students in the long run,” Costa said.
The goal of the FFVP is to create healthier school environments by providing healthier food choices, expanding the variety of fruits and vegetables students experience, increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, and positively impact students’ present and future health.
The following schools in the Senator’s district have received FFVP funding:
- Penn Hills Charter School of Entrepreneurship
- Penn Hills Elementary School
- Liberty Elementary School
- Pittsburgh Lincoln K-5
- Roosevelt Elementary School
- Propel Braddock Hills Elementary
- Propel Charter School – Hazelwood
- Propel Charter School – Homestead
- Sister Thea Bowman Catholic Academy
- The Pennsylvania School for The Deaf, PSD Cafeteria
- Kelly Primary School
- Turner Intermediate School
- Edgewood Elementary STEAM Academy
- Turtle Creek Elementary STEAM Academy
- Wilkins Elementary STEAM Academy
Priority for funding through FFVP is given to schools with the highest rates of students eligible for free and reduced-price meals.
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Pittsburgh – August 2, 2021 – Sen. Jay Costa (D- Allegheny) announced today that $635,000 in Keystone Communities (KC) program grant funding has been awarded to community revitalization projects.
“Every opportunity to revitalize a community gathering space, bring a storefront back to life, or to make our outdoor spaces safer and more accessible brings new life, new jobs, and new opportunities for our residents,” Costa said.
Projects that received funding include:
- Hosanna House, Inc. – Bringing Wilkinsburg to Light-Housing Acquisition – $ 135,000
- Mt. Oliver Borough – Façade Improvement Program – $50,000
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh – URA Storefront Renovation Façade Program – $150,000
- Urban Redevelopment Authority of Pittsburgh – Homeowner Accessibility Program for Independence (HAPI) – $300,000
The Keystone Communities program is administered by the Pennsylvania Dept. of Community and Economic Development (DCED). The KC program is intended to encourage partnerships between public and private sector entities to support local initiatives to grow long-term prosperous neighborhoods.
“I am proud to support these local organizations in their revitalization efforts, and I look forward to the collaborative work that will continue across our city,” Costa said.
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PITTSBURGH – July 28, 2021 – Today, Senator Jay Costa released the following statement in regards to the announcement that Leslie Davis is rising to become President and CEO of UPMC and the departure of Jeffrey Romoff:
“I welcome the ascension of Leslie Davis to the position of President and CEO of UPMC. I’m sure that UPMC will be in good hands under her leadership. Her experience and expertise will surely be an asset to the medical system, and I expect it will continue to be a major regional contributor for some time to come.
Jeffrey Romoff was truly a leader and innovator in the Pittsburgh region and in the healthcare industry. While we have had our differences about certain workforce and community policies, there is no denying that under his direction, UMPC has been a force in the healthcare sector, created an enormous number of jobs and helped lead Pittsburgh through the transition from a major steel manufacturing hub to a modern economy.
Today, Pittsburgh’s healthcare system is world renowned in healthcare delivery, research, education, and job creation.”
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Allegheny County – July 23, 2021 – Today, Pennsylvania State Senators from Allegheny County including Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, Senator Wayne Fontana and Senator Lindsey Williams announced the approval of a $23,970,000 loan for the Pittsburgh Water & Sewer Authority (PWSA) from the Pennsylvania Infrastructure Investment Authority (PENNVEST).
“This investment strengthens the overall infrastructure of our city. Well maintained systems eliminate overflows into waterways, mitigate against sinkholes, and allow for the proper funneling of sewage and stormwater away from where we live and work. It may not always be top of mind for residents, but the functionality of our sewer systems ensures the functionality of our cities,” said Senator Costa.
The loan will be used to replace and rehabilitate approximately 22 miles of wastewater collection lines in an existing system that serves 81,958 residential customers. The collection lines run through Homewood, Squirrel Hill, Maytide, Marshall-Shadeland, Spring Garden and Highland Park.
“This funding will continue the modernization of the City’s water and wastewater infrastructure. Improved infrastructure lowers the odds of service interruptions, water quality issues, and steep customer rate hikes,” said Senator Fontana.
“Residents in these neighborhoods have experienced significant problems caused by sinkholes, sewage backups, and waterline breaks,” said Senator Williams. “I’m glad to see PWSA and PENNVEST prioritizing investment in infrastructure where it is most needed and can make the most difference in the lives of our residents.”
PENNVEST serves communities and citizens of Pennsylvania by funding sewer, storm water and drinking water projects. These projects not only contribute to improving Pennsylvania’s environment and the health of its people, but also provide opportunities for economic growth and jobs for Pennsylvania’s workers. More information is available on the PENNVEST website: https://www.pennvest.pa.gov.
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