Increased Assistance in Pennsylvania

Gov. Rendell has increased the amount of assistance that Pennsylvania is providing. Arguing that Pennsylvania families "need help now" to weather the recession, and to pay their bills, mortgage, and other expenses, Pennsylvania is now redirecting tens of millions of dollars for home-heating assistance, health insurance, mortgage assistance, and job-counseling and training programs.

Calling the new assistance "emergency economic relief," the Pennsylvania governor said he would immediately offer coverage to over 15,000 individuals and people who are now on a waiting list for the state-subsidized health-insurance program for lower-income adults. Over 200,000 adults and residents are on the adultBasic waiting list now, with just 25,000 of them being added just last month.

Governor Rendell said he also would move about $5 million into an existing fund that helps recently unemployed state residents pay their rent and mortgage while looking for jobs. This additional money will help an additional 550 families with their bills, the governor said.

In addition, the governor also said yesterday that he will extend the state's home-heating assistance program for lower income residents by an additional week (to April 3) to provide an additional $6.6 million in grants to help with paying winter heating bills.

Job-counseling training workshops will also be funded between now and the end of next month in every county and Pennsylvania has also created a Web site allowing residents to find the cheapest price for prescription drugs and medicines in their area.