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Yahoo
14-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
'Roof over people's heads': Proposed cuts to HUD funding could impact local public housing programs
Editor's note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – President Donald Trump's proposed broad and historic cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's discretionary funding could, if ultimately enacted, significantly transform the nation's public housing and Section 8 rental voucher programs that approximately 20% of Johnstown residents use. Trump, in his 'skinny' budget, recommended slashing HUD's funding by approximately $33 billion, including $26.7 billion for rental assistance programs, compared to this current fiscal year. For now, it is just an outline of a spending plan that, in its text, refers to the nation's 'dysfunctional rental assistance programs,' he said. 'The skinny budget and what I've seen, it isn't enough for us trying to make any kind of guess of what to expect,' JHA Executive Director Mike Alberts said. 'It's too early. There's been no good numbers coming out of the (U.S.) Senate and House (of Representatives) yet that would give us any kind of idea of where we might see cuts in specific programs. We just haven't seen anything to give us a good idea yet.' Alberts continued: 'Really, the only thing that's going to matter in the end is the budget that they pass that is in effect for Oct. 1, which is the federal government's beginning of fiscal year.' Federal Fallout logo Regardless of what budget changes may occur, Alberts said JHA's mission will continue to be helping people 'with the basic human need of housing.' 'With things being tougher than ever with the cost of living in general, affordable housing is absolutely needed, especially in Johnstown and Cambria County, where the poverty rates are traditionally so high,' Alberts said. 'It's important work, and we really rely on those federal dollars to keep the lights on and keep a safe roof over people's heads.' 'Where things stand' JHA operates 1,504 public housing units – with 1,400 being in the city proper – that are used to assist people in poverty or economically disadvantaged conditions, the elderly, and disabled. The dwellings are almost always filled to capacity. Johnstown Housing Authority | Prospect Homes Blueprints Johnstown Housing Authority executive director Mike Alberts with original blueprints for the Prospect Homes Housing Project. Photo taken at the Johnstown Housing Authority main office in the Cambria City section of Johnstown on Monday, May 8, 2023. Meanwhile, as of the end of May, the authority had 764 of its 960 Section 8 vouchers leased up, as part of the nation's rental assistance program. JHA has left vouchers unused due to funding uncertainties. For example, Alberts pointed out that JHA was told to expect $500,000 for the program in May, but only received $460,000 when the money showed up in its account. 'We've been extremely conservative with those vouchers because we don't know where the money is and what the value is, so we've been extremely conservative,' JHA Chairman Charles Arnone said. 'We probably won't be doing any more during the summer until we know where things stand.' In total, JHA has a total budget of just under $20.3 million for fiscal year 2025. The areas of spending are: • Public housing: $8,642,000 • Section 8 landlord payments: $5,675,903 • Section 8 administration fees: $722,233 • Capital Fund: $4,673,514 • Family self-sufficiency ('On The Rise') program: $72,840 • Choice Neighborhoods grant: $500,000. Alberts said the current situation is 'business as usual' with the next budget being 'a huge question mark.' Last year, JHA was awarded a Choice Neighborhood planning grant to develop an outline for stabilizing and improving Coopersdale Homes. The 30-month process is still ongoing. Alberts said the $500,000 grant is 'completely safe.' 'That (planning grant) money's already obligated to us and that's not in any danger of being taken away,' Alberts said. 'That's not all to us yet, since we have to kind of request it as we need it, but there's no danger of that going away.' 'More state control' The Republican president's plan would transform the funding system 'into a State-based formula grant which would allow States to design their own rental assistance programs based on their unique needs and preferences. 'The Budget would also newly institute a two-year cap on rental assistance for able bodied adults, and would ensure a majority of rental assistance funding through States would go to the elderly and disabled. 'A State-based formula program would also lead to significant terminations of Federal regulations.' 'With respect to cuts to housing, one thing that I would view as a positive is it would put more state control on some of these issues,' said state Senate Majority Whip Wayne Langerholc Jr., R-Richland Township. 'I know when we exposed some of the issues within HUD in the past with the (Section 8 voucher) porting, with the wait list, with the influx of individuals from Philadelphia that could not get a voucher in that area but were coming here to Johnstown, our hands were kind of tied. 'There wasn't a lot we could do from a state perspective, as it fell on the federal government. So if that does in fact change and come back, it will give our state much more discretion in shaping that policy and ensuring that it is done appropriately, and we would be able to have an impact on a lot of those areas, specifically that porting issue and the loopholes that we exposed for residency requirements.' Langerholc said the situation is currently 'in flux.' 'It's a fluid situation,' Langerholc said. 'I know it's something that we're watching very closely at the state level, what the federal government is doing across the board as well.'
Yahoo
05-06-2025
- Yahoo
Law enforcement, advocates say human trafficking is underreported in Cambria and Somerset Counties
JOHNSTOWN, Pa. (WTAJ) — Local officials say recent human trafficking cases in Cambria and Somerset counties are only a glimpse of a much larger, hidden crisis, one that often goes unreported and unnoticed. According to our media partners at the Tribune-Democrat, between 2015 and 2022, the National Human Trafficking Hotline identified 12 likely victims in Cambria County and three in Somerset County. While those numbers may appear small, law enforcement and experts caution that the actual scope is far greater. 'Frankly, we're actively investigating several cases right now,' Greg Neugebauer, Cambria County District Attorney, said. While most local cases involve sexual exploitation, he noted that labor trafficking has not been common in the area due to the lack of migrant worker populations. Notable cases in recent years include Barshay Dunbar's 2017 conviction for operating a sex ring out of a Super 8 hotel in Richland Township using Dunbar reportedly paid women in drugs. That case began when a hotel manager tipped off police. WTAJ story here: Human trafficking suspect sentenced to prison In 2022, William Warren was arrested and later pleaded guilty after law enforcement responded to a fatal overdose at his home in Stonycreek Township. Investigators determined the incident involved trafficking and drug activity. WTAJ story here: Johnstown man accused of sex trafficking next to police station Most recently, a Johnstown man was charged with multiple felonies for allegedly providing drugs to a teenage runaway and using her for sex in exchange for housing. WTAJ story here: Johnstown man accused of sex trafficking minor, threatening to kill her Johnstown Police Chief Mark Britton said the lack of reporting is not surprising, likening it to other violent and exploitative crimes where victims often remain silent out of fear or shame. Community leaders, counselors and law enforcement agree: trafficking is happening and more than most realize. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
'Air out of the sails': Arts groups scramble to respond to NEA grant terminations
Editor's note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – The Steeples Project has worked for years to revitalize historic churches in the Cambria City section of Johnstown, often leveraging grants, with the latest undertaking focused on turning the former St. Columba Catholic Church into a theater for live dramatic arts. Dave Hurst, project executive director, said the group needs 'every penny' of those dollars to help accomplish its aims, but recent changes to the federally funded National Endowment for the Arts has caused a disruption of its plans. Hurst said he was alerted by the NEA in early May that a previously awarded $20,000 grant had been terminated effective May 31. 'When I first read it, it was just air out of the sails,' he said. The funding was allocated for the Columba Theatre Project, and was set to pay for part of the construction documents. According to an email notification shared with The Tribune-Democrat, The Steeples Project award was terminated because the 'project no longer effectuates agency priorities.' The NEA, a federal arts group established by Congress in 1965, announced in May that updated grant-making policy priorities will 'focus funding on projects that reflect the nation's rich artistic heritage and creativity as prioritized by (President Donald Trump).' 'Consequently, we are terminating awards that fall outside these new priorities,' the notice said. 'The NEA will not prioritize projects that elevate the nation's (Historically Black Colleges and Universities) and Hispanic-serving institutions, celebrate the 250th anniversary of American Independence, foster (artificial intelligence) competency, empower houses of worship to serve communities, assist with disaster recovery, foster skilled trade jobs, make America healthy again, support the military and veterans, support Tribal communities, make the District of Columbia safe and beautiful and support the economic development of Asian American Communities.' The Learning Lamp also lost a $10,000 NEA Challenge America grant for the nonprofit's Children's Book Festival. However, that funding gap was bridged by a donation from The Andy Warhol Foundation for Visual Arts and the Helen Frankenthaler Foundation. The National Endowment for the Arts has a 2024 congressional allocation of more than $200 million, roughly half of which was requested for director endowment grants, including arts projects, including the Challenge America and Our Town programs. 'A scary time' The White House's budget request for the 2026 fiscal year calls for elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts, the National Endowment for the Humanities, and the Institute of Museum and Library Services, according to the National Assembly of State Arts Agencies. 'It's a scary time,' Hurst said of the situation. Despite his grant being terminated, Hurst said he consulted with the federal arts group, and was told he should be able to draw down the $20,000 and not lose anything. The theater project is in its final design phase of a multi-year project that will cost several million dollars to complete. That includes development of dressing rooms, seating, a lobby, expanded event space, a box office, lighting, acoustical reflector and several other improvements. 'To do that, we will definitely need federal funding, and that will be an 'open question' now,' Hurst said, 'because at this point, I don't think anybody really knows what the parameters will be.' He submitted the request for the money May 13 and is waiting for a response. 'A lot of uncertainty' Matthew Lamb, executive director of the Bottle Works arts center in Cambria City, is also awaiting word regarding an NEA grant application he submitted in April. That funding would help develop the arts center's public art initiative and match funding from the Pennsylvania Council of the Arts' Creative Communities grant that Bottle Works was awarded. However, Lamb is unsure what the future of his application is now that the NEA has updated its grant-making policies. He said the momentum Bottle Works has built with public art installations – such as the murals on the Cambria County Library in downtown Johns-town, the Spider-Man mural on Stone Bridge Brewing Co. and the Steve Ditko display on the Tulip Building – feels as if it's stalled, Lamb said. 'There's a lot of uncertainty,' he said. Bottle Works has earned NEA grants in the past, which have helped support operations and undertakings at the facility in Cambria City, including the murals on the jersey barriers on Power Street. When he heard the national arts group was terminating grants, he said his reaction was that of 'sheer terror.' 'Defunding at the NEA doesn't just affect our arts organizations, but it affects all the small businesses in our communities,' Lamb said. He said investments in the arts offer significant returns for communities. 'Hurdle to overcome' The National Assembly of State Art Agencies notes arts and creative industries generate 'a $36.8 billion trade surplus and add $1.2 trillion in value to the U.S. gross domestic product.' 'The NEA and state arts agencies catalyze cultural production and grow the talent pool for this important American industry that creates 5.4 million jobs on American soil,' the NASAA said. Lamb said the economic impact apart from the arts centers is also noteworthy. Attendees at nonprofit arts events spend more than $34 per outing beyond entrance fees, at local retailers and restaurants, according to the NASAA. 'While many industries produce jobs and revenue, only the arts offer a fivefold bottom line that strengthens our nation,' the assembly said. 'Arts activity supported by the NEA and state arts agencies boosts economic productivity, improves education outcomes, fosters civic cohesion, facilitates good health, and preserves cherished traditions that tell our country's story. These are consensus values that all Americans want for their families and communities.' Although the Community Arts Center of Cambria County does not have an active endowment grant, Executive Director Angela Godin said she was notified that the Challenge America grant her nonprofit has relied on was terminated in the update. In the past, the arts center has used the Challenge America grant for outreach initiatives for what she called underserved and underrepresented populations. 'This was a shock and a disappointment,' she said. 'Fortunately, the Community Arts Center of Cambria County does not rely on this particular funding stream for annual programmatic needs. Nevertheless, it is still a loss and hurdle to overcome, especially with the uncertainty of other grant programs from the NEA.' Hurst said he's hopeful the situation will work out, but everyone will have to 'wait and see' what comes next. Lamb shared a similar note of positivity. 'The arts organizations in the area will find a way to navigate these situations,' Lamb said. 'That's what we do. We're creative.'
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Somerset approves $125,000 settlement with former employee
Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Yahoo is using AI to generate takeaways from this article. This means the info may not always match what's in the article. Reporting mistakes helps us improve the experience. Generate Key Takeaways SOMERSET, Pa. – A federal lawsuit has been settled between Somerset County and a former county maintenance worker over free speech rights. Somerset County commissioners voted 3-0 to approve an agreement outlining the settlement's terms, which Somerset County Co-Solicitor Benjamin Carroll said includes a $125,000 payment to the former employee. The move settles a six-year-long dispute with former county worker Eric Trent, who sued the county in 2020. Carroll said the payment includes both county funds and an unspecified payout from the county's insurance company. He said under terms of the agreement, he could not get more specific but that the document 'speaks for itself.' Carroll acknowledged the written agreement is a public record subject to the Right-to-Know Law and that the media is able to request a copy. The Tribune-Democrat filed a written RTK request with the office Tuesday, and Carroll said the county must discuss the request with all parties involved prior to its release. Barring any valid objections, 'it's our intent to follow the law and release it,' he said Tuesday. First Amendment suit Issues raised in the lawsuit date back to mid-2019. None of Somerset's current commissioners were serving in office at the time. Somerset County and former President Commissioner Gerald Walker were sued by Trent after he voiced concern to Walker about a trend of hiring out-of-state workers for administrative roles at the time. Federal court documents indicated the discussion between Walker and Trent occurred during a trade show and ended with Trent saying he'd work to see Walker defeated in an upcoming election for continuing the hiring practice. Trent lost his county job a short time later. He was publicly escorted from the courthouse, his suit alleged at the time. Trent responded with the 2020 lawsuit, maintaining he had a right to voice his opinion and frustration about the county's practice. The county's hired Pittsburgh legal counsel, Gabriel Fera, argued Trent raised issues too 'trivial' to be of public concern – and the board was within its right to terminate Trent. But an appeals court sided with Trent in 2024. As a county citizen, Trent had a First Amendment right to voice his opinion about a public concern, a federal appeals court wrote. The matter was sent back to the federal courts for mediation since. Trent was contacted by The Tribune-Democrat for comment Tuesday. He said he could not discuss settlement specifics, but in a telephone interview said he was 'happy' with the way the case was resolved. 'I'm thankful for all the support I received from county employees,' he said, adding that he's continued receiving supportive calls from fellow Somerset County residents. 'It was a long process, but I'm just glad it's settled now.' 'Happy to have it resolved' Somerset County officials said they were also eager to move on from the matter. 'This is an issue that arose prior to the term of these commissioners. (The legal dispute) has gone on for a long time, and we're happy to have it resolved,' Carroll added during an interview after the county's board meeting alongside current commissioners board members Brian Fochtman, Irv Kimmel Jr. and Pamela Tokar-Ickes. Online court documents show the case was resolved in late February through mediation between Somerset County's legal counsel and Trent's attorneys. Efforts to reach Walker were not successful Tuesday. A message for comment was not returned. DeLuca: 'Recoup' losses Somerset county officials did not specify how they'll specifically cover the county's settlement costs. During the county's retirement board meeting Tuesday, Somerset County Treasurer Anthony DeLuca Jr. suggested the county take steps to recoup the funds from Walker. DeLuca said the former commissioner's pension is not yet being dispersed to Walker and suggested that those retirement funds could be 'frozen ... to recoup some of that money.' 'Otherwise ... it's coming from taxpayer's pockets,' he said. 'I'd want to go after that (money).' The county's three commissioners did not respond to DeLuca's suggestion during the board meeting. Carroll said it's something the commissioners board could discuss among themselves as an option, if they choose.
Yahoo
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
LIHEAP energy aid program seen as 'lifeline' for many Pa. households
Editor's note: Federal Fallout is a Tribune-Democrat news series addressing the potential local impact of funding cuts. JOHNSTOWN, Pa. – Lisa Golden has used the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program for more than 25 years, and she describes the federally funded service as a beneficial resource for her family. 'LIHEAP has helped our family by ensuring we are safe and our furnace and heat works properly,' she said. 'It also helps to make ends (meet) a bit easier with the funds that go directly to the company and lowers our bill.' She has accessed LIHEAP not only for utility bill assistance – last year, when the furnace in her Johnstown home stopped working, she and her husband, Phillip Grayson, applied for and were awarded crisis funds to fix it. In April, all staffers who oversee the federally funded LIHEAP were fired as part of a U.S. Department of Health and Human Services plan to terminate 10,000 of its 80,000 employees. At this time, all LIHEAP funding for the 2024-25 season, which was extended by two weeks to an April 18 deadline, is secure, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services press secretary Brandon Cwalina said. Despite that, 'continued federal funding and support are critical to DHS' ability to provide uninterrupted assistance for Pennsylvanians during the next winter season,' Cwalina said. When Golden learned of the impact on LIHEAP staff, she said the news 'brought anxiety' to her life. 'When I found out, it was very sad,' she said. 'I was not surprised by the fact the staff is gone and the program won't have anyone to distribute any funds.' Golden said LIHEAP is necessary for a variety of people, adding that her husband works full-time. She said it's 'such a shame so many will suffer,' especially in Cambria County, which she assumes 'is very dependent' on this type of service. According to state DHS data, 5,975 people in Cambria County for the 2024-25 period to date relied on the assistance; that's a decline from 2019-20, when the number was 6,253. In Somerset County, there were 3,365 residents who accessed the service to date, which is a slight downturn from the 2019-20 figure of 3,405. Golden said that as federal downsizing continues since President Donald Trump's administration took office, she 'assumed it was only a matter of time' until programs such as LIHEAP were affected. LIHEAP was created in 1981 and provides cash grants sent directly to utility or fuel companies to help millions of residents each year heat and cool their homes. Grant periods are open from November through April, and funding can range from $200 to $1,000 based on household size, income and fuel type. Those eligible fall at or below 150% of the Federal Poverty Limit, which is a gross income of $22,590 per year for an individual and $46,800 per year for a family of four. There are also crisis grants, such as the one Golden received, of $25 to $1,000 that can help pay for broken heating equipment or leaking lines, shut-off of the main heating source, the danger of being without fuel and related expenses. 'LIHEAP helps our community's most vulnerable citizens – children, older Pennsylvanians, people with disabilities and low-income families – make ends meet and keep their homes safer,' state DHS Secretary Valerie Arkoosh said in a release about the LIHEAP season extension. Congress allocated more than $4 billion to the program for the fiscal year 2025, with $378 million of that amount not released until this week. Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission Chairman Stephen M. DeFrank, Vice Chair Kimberly M. Barrow and Commissioner Kathryn L. Zerfuss released a joint statement expressing concern about the HHS staffing cuts that impacted the assistance program. 'LIHEAP is a lifeline for Pennsylvania's most vulnerable households, including seniors, children and individuals with disabilities,' Zerfuss said in the letter. 'It ensures that these families are able to stay connected to essential utility services – keeping their homes safe and warm, particularly during the harsh winter months. As consumers face increasing financial pressures, it's critical that we preserve this program to protect their well-being.' The National Consumer Law Center and the National Energy Assistance Directors Association also released a joint statement addressing LIHEAP's impact. 'LIHEAP saves lives, and it has helped keep home energy more affordable for over 40 years,' NCLC senior attorney Olivia Wein said in the statement. 'It's critical that HHS ensure there is no disruption to the administration of the LIHEAP program in order to protect families during future hot summers and cold winters.' According to the most recent Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission report of 2023, an average of 18.8% of electric customers in the state used LIHEAP in 2021. The percentage was 22.9% the next year and 21% in 2023. For gas customers, the average LIHEAP participation rate was 37.7% in 2021, 53.1% in 2022 and 46.3% in 2023, the report stated. Those figures were determined by dividing the number of LIHEAP cash grants by the number of confirmed low-income customers for each public utility and are on par with 2017-19 averages. During the 2023-24 LIHEAP season – the most recent information available – 302,356 households throughout the state received $113,068,913 in cash benefits, according to DHS. Additionally, approximately 115,614 households statewide got $63,355,913 in crisis benefits for that season, state officials said. FirstEnergy spokesman Todd Meyers said the company's human services is waiting on decisions at the federal level to better understand any impacts to LIHEAP and Pennsylvania customers. 'While we do not have an update yet, we continue to monitor the situation closely to understand any impact to the administration of the LIHEAP program,' he said. In the meantime, Meyers pointed to other electrical service assistance programs that can help Pennsylvania customers, including the Pennsylvania Customer Assistance Program, the Dollar Energy Fund and the 211 helpline. 'It is critical for customers who are having difficulty paying their electric bills to contact us so we can help match them to programs that meet their circumstance,' Meyers said. 'We can't know why they need help unless they reach out to us.' Golden said her family does use other programs, including the Customer Assistance Program and PCAP, and they will be investigating the Dollar Energy Fund and weatherization offerings. Karen Struble Myers, United Way of the Southern Alleghenies president and CEO, said she anticipates a need for local funding to help fill gaps following the federal staffing cuts. 'Although this didn't provide any material changes to Pennsylvania's LIHEAP program ... continued federal funding and support are critical to the commonwealth's ability to provide uninterrupted assistance for Pennsylvanians during the next winter season,' she said. Struble Myers said the future of navigating these issues will include challenges. The United Way is one of several groups that facilitate the 211 helpline, a 24/7 hotline that can connect qualifying clients with needed programs, from preschool and rental assistance to LIHEAP. Madeline Burrows accessed LIHEAP from 2019-22, and she said the help was necessary or she would have ended up sleeping on friends' couches or freezing. 'The program made my house survivable during the winter, not comfortable,' she said. Burrows struggled with broken windows and sealed them with plastic and blankets after high school while working part-time and attempting to attend college classes, she said. During that time, her furnace broke and needed multiple repairs. 'Poverty was a gateway to financial crisis after financial crisis,' Burrows said. 'I often didn't know what crisis to try and fix before three new ones appeared.' Burrows said she has 'a lot of fear for what will happen to people in our community' with the future of LIHEAP uncertain. 'Johnstown is consistently ranked as one of the poorest cities in the state,' she said. 'Most people I know here either rely on assistance now or did in the past. People not receiving assistance here is nothing but torture.'
