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Legislative Update |
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The latest news from the State Capitol
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Please do not reply directly to this email, as it returns to an unmanned account.
You are welcome to contact me through this link.
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Options for Homeowners in Need of Financial Aid
Are you a homeowner seeking assistance for mortgage and housing-related expenses such as utilities or back property taxes to address delinquency and avoid default, foreclosure or displacement from your home?
The Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA) has reopened the Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (PAHAF) to homeowners struggling from pandemic-related financial hardships.
The program provides financial assistance to eligible homeowners. You can verify your eligibility here: Am I Eligible? — Pennsylvania Homeowner Assistance Fund (pahaf.org)
Most four-person households, with a total household income of $124,500 or less and have not received prior PAHFA assistance, are eligible to apply.
This program was paused last year as the agency processed a backlog of applications. The agency is now accepting new applications until the remaining funds are exhausted. So far, more than 15,500 households have received more than $205 million of the $350 million awarded to the Commonwealth through the American Rescue Plan Act.
Funds will be distributed on a first-come, first-served basis to eligible applicants with priority given to homeowners facing an imminent adverse action (IAA) such as a notice of foreclosure, sheriff sale or utility shut-off notice. Applicants should understand that submitting an application does not guarantee funding.
More information about the program, eligibility and how to apply is available at www.pahaf.org. If homeowners have questions, they can contact the dedicated PAHAF Call Center at 888-987-2423, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Homeowners may also reach out to any of my district offices for help navigating this application.
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Important Announcement that May Impact Students Pursuing Higher Education
The submission deadline for FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid), with relation to the PA State Grant, has been extended to June 1. Historically, May 1 served as the “deadline” for students to complete their FAFSA for PA State Grant consideration.
The current FAFSA application was delayed nearly three months due to changes implemented federally by the FAFSA Simplification Act. The U.S. Department of Education introduced the 2024-25 FAFSA on Dec. 31, 2023, but has since encountered a number of issues, delays and errors in processing student applications. The PA State Grant Program relies on the FAFSA form as its primary application point to assess student eligibility for a PA State Grant award.
Given these challenges, PHEAA has delayed the deadline for state financial aid to ensure the effective distribution of PA State Grant funds to students and families who need it most. Even with the deadline extension, PHEAA urges students who have not yet submitted their FAFSA for the upcoming 2024-25 academic year to submit it as soon as possible.
After a student completes the FAFSA and the data is transmitted to PHEAA, the next step for first-time applicants is filling out the PA State Grant Form using PHEAA’s new GrantUs platform. Notices are expected to go out in the next two weeks to students, with instructions on setting up their GrantUs accounts and completing their PA State Grant documentation.
Financial aid experts are available for one-on-one virtual FAFSA sessions on Wednesdays in May from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. To schedule a session, call or email:
Nancy Harvey
nancy.harvey@pheaa.org
717-956-8285
You may also reach out to my office or find more information at www.pheaa.org.
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Last year we honored Thomas Rudnitskas of Hanover Township by dedicating the Thomas Rusnitskas Playground in recognition of his remarkable contributions to our community. As the weather warms up, it's the perfect time to visit and enjoy this special tribute in the Hanover Green section.
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