Allegheny County assistance programs.

Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Program

Homeowners in Allegheny County are able to get free help from a housing counselor in renegotiating their home mortgage terms. The mortgage counselor will also help with setting up payment plans to cover delinquencies, and will also provide other assistance to help bring their mortgage current.

The mortgage counselor will work closely with the homeowner to establish a course of action, which could include modified mortgage terms, a payment plan, or even a possible bankruptcy filing, as well as all other options with the goal of saving the home.

The local Allegheny County Court will also become involved. A court-supervised conference will then be scheduled with the mortgager lender in an effort to try to reach an agreement that satisfies all parties. The court judge then will have final say over whether a foreclosure moves forward or not.

The goal of this Allegheny Residential Mortgage Foreclosure Program is to try to get homeowners mortgage and foreclosure assistance before a sheriff's sale takes place. When that occurs there is little that can be done to save the home from the process. Dial 1.866.298.8020 to learn more or ask for help.

In addition, the city of McKeesport Pennsylvania has also started a separate assistance program to help its residents with paying rent, utility bills, mortgages, and security deposits. More.

 

 

 

Rent assistance

Over $13 million in federal stimulus funds is being provided to Allegheny County and Pittsburgh to help people pay their rent and also prevent an eviction. The funds will be used to provide short-term assistance and stability to families, with the goal of allowing them to obtain stable, long-term housing when the assistance eventually ends.

Action Housing ((412) 281-2102), North Hills Community Outreach, Community Human Services, Urban League of Pittsburgh ((412) 681-1110), and Veteran’s Leadership Program have all been selected to provide the assistance as well as homeless prevention programming, funds for monthly rent payments, and also housing relocation services for those who need to move or are currently homeless. Find additional agencies and programs that focus on Allegheny County rent assistance.

Assistance with paying bills in Allegheny County

The North Hills Community Outreach (NHCO) organization has several programs that assist Allegheny county and Pittsburgh residents. Some of the programs offered include:

• Automobile and cars - NHCO partners with Community Auto in an effort to make car and automobile ownership affordable to low and moderate income families and individuals who are experiencing economic hardship. They will sell the cars at a lower cost, provide financing, and do what it takes to get people into an automobile.
   
• Utility and heating bill assistance - This program will help low-income families apply for and receive grants from the $1 Energy Fund and also Duquesne Light and Columbia Gas Customer Assistance Programs each year. Cash grants provided, which only go to current utility customers, can run as high as $1,000. They also can apply for crisis grants of up to $400, which are for those who lack heating service due to their service being shut off or disconnected.
   
• Emergency Financial Help - The NHCO organization also helps in financial crisis situations or emergencies. They can help pay a families monthly rent or a security deposit so as to prevent an eviction or homelessness; they will pay for car repairs so that a person does not lose his or her job; pay for home repairs; cover the cost of prescriptions for an un- or underinsured person; etc.

In addition to these resources and services, they also have food pantries, credit counseling, free food aid, employment assistance programs, and more. Contact them at 412-487-6316. They are located at 1975 Ferguson Rd. in Allison Park, 416 Lincoln Ave. in Pittsburgh, or the office c/o  Allegheny General Hospital, Suburban Campus, located at 100 S. Jackson Ave., 2 South, Pittsburgh, PA .

Other local agencies and non-profits that can either provide financial help for bills such as heating, utility, and rent, free food, medications, or just general support and advice include these Pittsburgh and Allegheny County Pennsylvania agencies listed below. Each will have its own specific assistance programs, so you will need to call them to get more information on their services.

Allegheny County Department of Economic Development (phone (412) 3501041) as well as Pittsburgh Department of City Planning (412) 255-2667 both administer the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP), which can provide grants to help pay rent if someone is facing an eviction or the risk of becoming homeless.

Association of Churches of Allegheny County - Apply for help. Access free gasoline vouchers, grants that can help pay rent, heating and utility payment assistance, emergency free food, clothing and shoe vouchers, referrals to charities, bus passes, prescriptions and health care. 724-226-0606

Pittsburgh Presbyterian Lazarus (412-323-1400) - Get a few hundred dollars to pay rent, mortgage, or medical bills.

Call the Salvation Army at 1-800-454-1156 for utility assistance (including electric and heating bills) as well as free food and information on programs such as SNAP food stamps.

Allegheny Countywide agencies and services:

Many of these agencies and non-profits can direct people to programs to get help with utilities, rent assistance ,medical care, food, and provide other advice and counseling.

• Catholic Charities phone 412-456-6976
• Area Agency on Aging 412-350-4234
• The Pittsburgh / Allegheny County Salvation Army 412-394-3580

Local Neighborhood Services and Agencies:

• Brashear Association (South Side) - 412-431-2236
• Focus on Renewal (Sto-Rox) dial 412-771-6460
• East End Cooperative Ministry 412-361-5549
• Family Resources 412-361-4800
• Hill House Association 412-392-4400
• Human Services Center (Turtle Creek area) call 412-829-7112
• Rankin Christian Center - phone number 412-271-8313
• Methodist Union of Social Agencies (Munhall) 412-461-1800
• North Hills Community Outreach 412-487-6316
• Rainbow Kitchen (Munhall) 412-464-1892
• South Hills Interfaith Ministries 412-854-9120

Allegheny County Pennsylvania programs and agencies that cover the entire state

Find a listing of programs and agencies that provide rent, housing, foreclosure, and other assistance to all of Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh and Allegheny County.

• Pennsylvania mortgage and foreclosure assistance
• Pennsylvania HUD foreclosure and housing counseling
• Pennsylvania Section 8 housing programs
• Pennsylvania utility bill assistance programs
• Pennsylvania free legal advice and aid
• Pennsylvania food banks
• Pennsylvania community clinics
• Pennsylvania free dental clinics

Mortgage help, credit counseling, and foreclosure prevention in Allegheny County

Free or discounted counseling and help is available from the following local HUD and/or PHFA Approved Agencies. In addition to the centers listed below, the greater Pittsburgh and Allegheny County region are supported by several other non-profit housing and credit counseling agencies. They provide free foreclosure help to income qualified borrowers, advice, and support. Find locations of Pittsburgh housing counseling agencies.

• ACTION Housing
  412.281.2101
• CCCS of Western PA
  888.511.2227
• Fair Housing Partnership of Western Pennsylvania
  412.391.2535
• Garfield Jubilee Association
  412.665.5204
• Mon Valley Initiative
  412.464.4000
• Nazareth Housing Services
  412.381.3797
• NeighborWorks Western Pennsylvania (Formerly known as Neighborhood Housing Services). More.
• Pittsburgh Community Reinvestment Group (PCRG) - dial (412) 391-6732
• Urban League of Pittsburgh
  412.227.4802
• Consumer Credit Counseling Services (CCCS) - phone (888) 511-2227
• Find additional mortgage and foreclosure assistance programs in Allegheny County and Pittsburgh. Continue.

 

 

Allegheny County and Pittsburgh Homelessness Prevention & Rapid Re-Housing Program

This rental and eviction prevention program provides cash grants, financial assistance, counseling and other services to people who are facing an eviction, individuals who are currently homeless and the working poor who could become homeless without any type of housing assistance.

Hundreds of individuals and families are now enrolled in the program. So these people have met the qualifications, including income guidelines, and they are currently receiving financial assistance, such as funds for rental payments, security deposits, rental arrearage payments, utility and heating bill payments, utility arrearage payments and even money for paying utility deposits.

This program is funded by the federal government. To qualify for this assistance, applicants need to be facing an eviction, or they must be homeless or about to become homeless. In addition to those criteria, households must be below 50 percent of the area median household income. Call the HPRP Hotline at 1-877-350-4777 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday to learn more or apply for aid.

 

 

Food Assistance

If you are struggling with providing food for your family, some agencies or charities to turn to include those listed below. They either run food pantries, or can provide people with groceries and other supplies. Contact the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank at 412-460-3663. Another place to turn to for food assistance in Allegheny County is Angel Food Ministries. 877-366-3646. Angel Food will provide people with up to $60 in groceries, and they only need to pay about $30 for them.

A large number of additional food banks and distribution centers operate in the County. Get details and information on more Allegheny County food pantries.

Medical and Dental Care

Catholic Charities runs a free health care clinic. It provides medical and dental care for people without health insurance and also low income individuals. Call the agency at 412-456-6911.

In addition, there are a number of free medical clinics located around Pittsburgh and Allegheny County. the local United Way has a listing of the agencies. Contact the Allegheny County United Way at 412-2551155 to learn more or get medical care.

City of Pittsburgh

There are also some specific programs for the city of Pittsburgh. Click here to find other resources.