14-05-2025
Housing, health projects receive Community Foundation for the Alleghenies grants
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Projects to renovate Johnstown homes and bolster transitional housing in two counties were among 74 initiatives across the region to be awarded spring grants from the Community Foundation for the Alleghenies.
The season's total included $279,874 in grants to support projects across Cambria, Somerset and Bedford counties, CFA officials said.
'We always look forward to our small grant rounds during the spring and fall because it gives us the chance to hear directly from the local nonprofits that are serving our communities daily,' said CFA Executive Director Angie Berzonski.
'Their requests help us identify their priorities and the changing needs of our region.'
Among them, the Women's Help Center, of Johnstown, received $6,000 for its 'The Way Home Transitional Housing Expansion' project. Those funds will enable the center to furnish and equip a newly secured duplex that will feature eight beds for people experiencing homelessness, organizers said.
'Our community has been facing a growing need for affordable housing, along with an increase in housing insecurity for many individuals and families,' said Roxann Tyger, executive director of the Women's Help Center. 'We have been working to develop alternatives that will enable individuals facing homelessness to have affordable short-term housing with a variety of supportive services to help them regain stability as they work towards finding their permanent home.'
Similarly, Next Step Center Inc., of Somerset, received $4,300 to support its Transitions Program. The evening shelter care program provides daily life skills and case management to aid people experiencing homelessness to achieve self-sufficiency and safe affordable housing.
'The funding we received for the Transitions Program has been instrumental in providing critical support and resources to individuals experiencing homelessness, helping them move toward stability, independence and long-term housing,' said Lisa Wengerd, executive director of the Next Step Center.
'This investment has strengthened our ability to offer case management, life skills training and access to essential services.'
Hosanna Industries, which has been upgrading homes across the area for the past several years, received $7,500. The group's ongoing Johnstown Resurrection Project provides charitable home repairs for low-income homeowners in the Johnstown region, using volunteer labor when able, to 'uplift' and create more vibrant communities.
Rebecca Hetzer, director of mission resources at Hosanna Industries, said the organization was 'excited' for the grant.
'This funding will be used to bring hope, help and healing to multiple households in the Johnstown region,' she said. 'We are excited for the opportunity to use these funds to do so and continue to resurrect Johnstown and make it a better city in which to live.'
Hosanna Industries' work was among 31 Cambria County projects to receive funding, with amounts ranging from $750 to enable Summerhill Township Volunteer Fire Company to upgrade equipment, to $7,500 each for Crichton McCormick Park in Portage and the Cambria County Backpack Project's food insecurity mission.
Education, arts and local health and human services groups also received support, including Southern Alleghenies EMS Regional Council Inc., which received just less than $7,000 for a mobile EMS training simulator project.
Community and economic development, culture and environmental projects also received aid.
Some of Somerset County's largest grants included $7,500 for Confluence Creative Arts Center's EcoArt Camp, and $6,500 for the Somerset County Mobile Food Bank.
The Community Foundation for the Alleghenies has been issuing grant awards each spring for years in the region.
The public, nonprofit foundation manages and works to build up funds, including county-specific endowments, to support community efforts in Bedford, Cambria, Indiana and Somerset counties.
