Burns: $290,000 in state grants coming back to Cambria County

Rep. Frank Burns    June 9, 2023 | 12:03 PM

HARRISBURG, June 9 – Continuing his priority of seeking out state funding for the communities he represents, state Rep. Frank Burns said that he has secured another $290,000 for housing services in Cambria County.

“As I’ve said before, if I don’t advocate for our region, state funding won’t make it back to Cambria County,” he said. “We could miss out on the benefits that these grants can bring, or have to pay for them out of our own pockets. That’s why I’ve made it a priority to fight and make sure our region gets its fair share of state funding.”

In all, grants were awarded to:

  • Blair County Community Action Program -- $75,000 for housing counseling services and $100,000 for homelessness prevention services in Blair and Cambria counties. Such services include education, assistance, guidance and focus on increasing financial literacy to potential homeowners and tenants to help them improve their housing conditions; and rapid re-housing, re-entry, rental and utility assistance, landlord-tenant mediation, emergency shelter, street outreach and more to promote self- sufficiency.

  • Women’s Help Center Inc. -- $120,000 for eviction prevention. This program works with individuals, landlords and the legal system to help prevent eviction and stabilize housing, whether that’s through financial literacy and renter education or legal advocacy.

The funding is being provided through the Pennsylvania Housing Affordability and Rehabilitation Enhancement Fund within the Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency. These grants are funded by Realty Transfer Taxes, while other funding for PHARE grants comes from Marcellus Shale impact fees.

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