Burns, Wozniak announce $120,775 grant for emergency housing in Cambria
Domestic abuse victims, eligible homeless to benefit
Rep. Frank Burns September 15, 2016 | 3:01 PM
EBENSBURG, Sept. 15 – Cambria County will receive $120,775 in federal funds to provide short-term shelter for domestic abuse victims and housing/utility assistance for eligible homeless people, state Rep. Frank Burns and state Sen. John Wozniak announced today.
Administered through the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development, the funds will help the Cambria County Emergency Solutions Grant program with its emergency shelter and rapid re-housing activities.
“With the recent loss of the Salvation Army and its 24 beds, it is more necessary and vital than ever to provide emergency shelter and homelessness funding,” said Burns, D-Cambria.
Wozniak, D-Cambria/Bedford/Clearfield, said, “These monies will be used for operations and essential services at the Women's Help Center, a domestic violence shelter with 24 beds and four cribs, and for the 14-bed Martha & Mary House Homeless Shelter, which is the county emergency homeless shelter located in Dale.”
The Community Action Partnership of Cambria County will continue to operate the rapid re-housing component activities, as that agency has in the past. That component of the program will provide rental assistance, case management, utility payments, and security deposits for eligible homeless individuals and families, as defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.
Burns and Wozniak said all proposed activities will be supplemented by various county and local agencies, such as United Way of the Laurel Highlands, the County Housing Assistance Program, the County Community Development Block Grant Program, the Pennsylvania Coalition Against Domestic Violence, Catholic Charities and private donations.
They added that a coordinated effort will link all county human service agencies for intake, case management and counseling services; and will link affordable housing opportunities with the Greater Johnstown Landlords Association, the Johnstown Housing Authority, the Cambria County Redevelopment Authority and the Northern Cambria Community Development Corp.