PITTSBURGH, PA – Today, Senator Jay Costa announces $1,150,637 in grant funding from the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) awarded to Allegheny County. These funds were drawn from various grant programs that seek to prevent violence against minority groups, women, and children, as well as support law enforcement.
Of especial importance to Senator Costa is the Nonprofit Security Grant Program, which he and Representative Dan Frankel fought to establish in the wake of the mass shooting at Tree of Life, during which a white supremacist murdered eleven Jewish worshippers. Signed into law in 2019, Act 83 directs PCCD to administer grants to nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication. This enormously successful program has delivered millions of dollars in security upgrades to nonprofits throughout Pennsylvania.
“I have been extremely proud to deliver funding so that the people who call the 43rd home have safe communities, gathering spaces, and houses of worship,” said Senator Costa. “I’d like to thank the PCCD for their diligent work funding proven community safety measures and protecting the good people doing the hard work of building safe neighborhoods. Along with my colleagues in the Senate Democratic caucus, we will continue to work for safe communities for every Pennsylvanian.”
Recipients of the Nonprofit Security Grant in the 43rd District include:
- Bhutanese Community Association of Pittsburgh: $25,000
- Bnai Emunoh Chabad Inc: $75,000
- Center of Life: $46, 327
- Community Day School: $25,000
- Congregation Kether Torah: $25,000
- Congregation Poale Zedeck: $150,000
- Hillel Academy of Pittsburgh: $111,500
- Lubavitch Center: $25,000
- Rodef Shalom Congregation: $25,810
- St. Michael’s Orthodox Church: $23,000
- Tree of Life, Inc: $150,000
- Yeshivath Achei Tmimim of Pittsburgh: $75,000
Recipients of the State Children’s Advocacy Center Funds include:
- A Child’s Place: $47,000
- UPMC – Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh: $47,000
Recipients of the State Violence and Delinquency Prevention Programs Funds Include:
- Amachi Pittsburgh: $25,000
- Youth Enrichment Services, Inc.: $50,000
SisTers PGH Corp received $75,000 in Federal STOP Violence Against Women Act Funds for their Project T Housing Support.
Rankin Borough Received $150,000 for the Eastern Regional Mon Valley Police from the Federal Justice Assistance Grant Funds.
More information about these programs is available on the PCCD’s website.
Read about the Senate Democratic Caucus’s commitment to safe communities for every Pennsylvanian here.
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Pittsburgh, PA – November 15, 2023 − Today, the Pennsylvania Senate passed HB 1461, a bill to fund state-related universities, by a vote of 45-5. This was well above the constitutionally required two-thirds vote necessary to fund Penn State, the University of Pittsburgh, Temple, and Lincoln.
In response, Senate Democratic Leader Jay Costa, releases the following statement:
“I am delighted that this legislature will finally be driving out much-needed funding to our state-related universities, including the institution of higher learning in my backyard, the University of Pittsburgh,” said Senator Costa. “These dollars directly support reduced tuition for our in-state students, saving each student about $14,000 annually. While I wish that we were able to provide an increase as proposed by the governor, I recognize that we are nearly five months past our budget deadline. It’s imperative that we move this process to the governor’s desk. As we continue to work together to finish the budget process, I am confident we can continue to deliver funding to improve the lives of every Pennsylvanian.”
HB 1461 now heads to the Governor’s desk for his signature.
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Harrisburg, PA – October 31, 2023 – Today, the Pennsylvania House of Representatives passed HB 1772, which increases the total funding for the hugely successful Nonprofit Security Grant Program from $5 million to $10 million. Senator Costa and Representative Dan Frankel championed the creation of the Nonprofit Security Grant Program in the wake of the Tree of Life Massacre in 2018, when a white supremacist murdered eleven Jewish worshippers.
In response, Democratic Leader Jay Costa, releases the following statement:
“I am extremely proud of the nonprofit security program, and I am glad we are expanding it to meet the overwhelming demand from the community,” said Senator Costa. “Along with my colleague Dan Frankel, we have already seen this program deliver critical security upgrades in Allegheny County and across Pennsylvania. It’s up to us to protect our vulnerable communities from bad actors, and offer marginalized people safe spaces to gather, worship, dance, and make friends. I look forward to working with my colleagues in the Senate to get this bill over the finish line and drive out these dollars to keep vulnerable communities safe.”
The most recent round of Nonprofit Security Grant Awardees was announced in April 2023. Applications for the next round of funding closed on October 30, 2023.
Signed into law in 2019, Act 83 directs PCCD to administer grants to nonprofit organizations who principally serve individuals, groups or institutions that are included within a bias motivation category for single bias hate crime incidents as identified by the FBI’s Hate Crime Statistics publication.
Details about how the grant funding is administered is accessible on the PCCD’s website.
Harrisburg, PA − October 26, 2023 – Today, State Senator Jay Costa joins calls from Jewish constituents in his district and across the commonwealth to adjust the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election to respect Passover. If the primary date remains April 23, 2024, many Jewish voters may be disenfranchised from the voting process. Additionally, Jewish people may be unable to serve as poll workers, and Jewish houses of worship likely cannot be used as polling places.
The PA Senate Democratic Caucus has been vocal in its call to find a new date for the 2024 primary to balance the need for Pennsylvania’s voters to have a larger say in presidential candidates with the need to avoid conflicts in the Jewish calendar. Many have suggested moving the date up one week to April 16, 2024, which does not coincide with any major religious holidays.
“I cannot stand by as Jewish people are forced to choose between observing their faith and making their voices heard in primary elections,” said Senator Costa. “The County Commissioners Association of Pennsylvania must immediately return to the table and end their obstinate opposition to moving the date. In this moment, as Jewish and Israeli people are mourning a terrorist attack and hundreds of deaths, we must affirm that Jewish people are welcome in Pennsylvania and that their voices are critical. I will continue to push the County Commissioners Association to agree to a primary date that is respectful of this high holiday.”
“Without any action, the 2024 primary date will fall on Passover,” said Senator Amanda M. Cappelletti, Democratic Chair of the State Government Committee. “Keeping this date for the primary is disrespectful to the entire Jewish community in Pennsylvania. Jewish voters and poll workers deserve the space to observe this important holiday without their civic duties overlapping on their observances. We all knew this was coming, and it is of the utmost importance that we take urgent action to confirm a new primary date before it is too late.”
The Jewish Legislative Caucus, which is co-chaired by Representative Dan Frankel and State Senator Judy Schwank, also released a statement expressing great disappointment over the coincidence of the primary election and Passover.
HB 224, which would move the date of Pennsylvania’s 2024 primary election, is currently in the Senate Rules Committee.
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Pittsburgh, PA – October 13, 2023 − Today, State Senator Jay Costa announces over $12 million in funding for affordable housing projects in his district in Allegheny County. This funding comes from the 2 022 Fiscal Year budget and utilizes ARPA funding to help fill the gaps in housing needs.
“I was proud to lead the Pennsylvania Senate Democratic Caucus to ensure that as much federal American Rescue Plan Act funding as possible was pumped into our local economy to make investments that would be long lasting for working families,” said Senator Costa.“Towards that end, we were proud to allocate $100 million toward the development and rehabilitation of affordable housing. Yesterday, PFHA awarded over $12 million to projects from Swissvale to Hazelwood to Braddock to Homewood. I am grateful to have partners like my Senate Democratic colleagues and the workers at PHFA who are helping deliver a safe, affordable home for every Pennsylvanian.”
The projects funded in the 43rd district are described in detail below.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: African Queens Apartments
Location: 2159 Centre Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
Ownership Entity: Amani Christian Community Development Corporation
Affordable Housing Units: 9
Reservation of Grant Funds: $900,000
Scope: African Queens Apartments will be a 18,000 SF mixed-use development with 1,700SF of commercial space on the ground floor, and a total of 12 apartments on the second, third, and fourth floors. Nine of the apartments will be reserved for applicants making less than 60% AMI, and the remaining three will be reserved for applicants making less than 80% AMI. Of the nine apartments reserved for applicants making less than 60% AMI, three will be reserved for very low-income households and six will be reserved for applicants that are special needs or homeless.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Homewood Affordable Housing Construction
Location: 536-538 Brushton Ave, 541-545 Brushton Ave, 7704-7706 Tioga St, 7638-7644 Tioga St, 7309 Hamilton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Ownership Entity: Homewood Redevelopment LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 37
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,500,000
Scope of Work: This project encompasses the acquisition and rehab of blighted properties in the Homewood neighborhood of Pittsburgh. The properties to be redeveloped located at 536, 538, and 541-545 Brushton Ave., 7309 Hamilton Ave., and 7704-7706 and 7638-7644 Tioga St., and total 37 units. This project seeks to ensure that residents of Homewood can remain in their community, have safe and secure housing, and benefit from redevelopment in the place where they already live and raise their families.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Homewood Housing Rehabilitation
Location: 7301 Hamilton Ave, 7811 Hamilton Ave, 7812 Formosa Way, 7819 Hamilton Ave, and 7818 Formosa Way, Pittsburgh, PA 15208
Ownership Entity: RT Homewood LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 17
Reservation of Grant Funds: 1,020,000
Scope: The Homewood Housing Rehabilitation project contains 17 units of affordable housing and will prevent displacement of vulnerable families in the Homewood Neighborhood of the City of Pittsburgh. 4 two-bedroom units are for families below 30% AMI, and 13 units are for families below 60% AMI. The exteriors of all the buildings will be substantially renovated with new roofs, porches, and masonry repairs. Other proposed renovations include energy efficiency upgrades, and the installation of new porches and decking.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Independent Housing Resources East
Location: 2531-2543 S. Braddock Ave, Swissvale, PA 15218; 606 Swissvale Ave, Wilkinsburg, PA 15221; 117 N. Winebiddle St, Pittsburgh, PA 15224; 5757 Stanton Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15224
Ownership Entity: Independent Housing Resources East Inc.
Affordable Housing Units: 24
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,400,000
Scope: Independent Housing Resources East is a four-building scattered site project that was developed in the 1990s and contains 24 units of affordable housing. After 30 years, significant capital improvements needed both inside individual units and to the exterior areas of the sites. Proposed improvements to the buildings include HVAC upgrades, new windows, basement repairs, exterior site improvements, and various interior updates to all units.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Hazelwood 2023
Location: 20 Almeda, Pittsburgh, PA 15207
Ownership Entity: RTH Investments LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 9
Reservation of Grant Funds: $540,000
Scope: Hazelwood 2023 located at 20 Almeda in Pittsburgh encompasses the full renovation of a 9-unit affordable housing complex to ensure the safety and comfort of the residents. This project is intended to preserve affordable housing in the area that may otherwise have been turned into high end apartments and displacing the current residents.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Hazelwood Affordable Rental Preservation Program (HARPP): Stabilization Initiative
Location: Scattered Sites, Pittsburgh, PA
Ownership Entity: HAARP, LLC
Affordable Housing Units: 61
Reservation of Grant Funds: $1,861,552
Scope: This project encompasses the rejuvenation of 61 scattered-site affordable rental units through the Hazelwood Affordable Rental Preservation Project located in the Pittsburgh area. Improvements to the sites will address items needed to ensure safe and secure housing for the residents. These improvements include structural repairs, roof replacements, appliances, energy efficiency upgrades, facade improvements, and general improvements unique to each site.
Reservation of Housing Options Grant Funds
Development Name: Wood Towers
Location: 810 Wood Street, Pittsburgh, PA
Ownership Entity: Wood Towers MF Grant LP
Affordable Housing Units: 97
Reservation of Grant Funds: $5,000,000
Scope: Wood Towers is a 97-unit affordable housing apartment building located in Pittsburgh that serves the elderly and persons with disabilities. HOP funding will be used for renovations including roof replacements, HVAC replacements, sitewide Wi-Fi, security improvements, new elevator system, new hot water heaters, and various cosmetic upgrades.
Additional information about PFHA is available on their website.
Learn more about the Pennsylvania Senate Democrats Priorities, including affordable homes for every Pennsylvanian, on our website.
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