Urban_Committee

Stefano, Pittman and Senate Committees Receive Update on Veteran Homelessness in PA

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Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee and Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee members heard from a veteran experiencing challenges who has benefitted from the support offered by the Veterans Place of Washington Boulevard. Seated at table: Sen. Scott Hutchinson (R-21); Sen. Devlin Robinson (R-37); Nathan Silcox executive director for Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32); Sen. Stefano; Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41); Sarah Stauffer, executive director for Sen. Pittman; and Sen. Nikil Saval (D-1).

HARRISBURG – Sen. Pat Stefano (R-32), chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, and Sen. Joe Pittman (R-41), chair of the Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee, hosted a joint hearing to learn about the progress made to combat veteran homelessness, as well as what improvements can still be made.

Testifiers explained that a strong collaboration between federal, state and community partners is critical to most effectively help veterans – particularly when they have circumstances that present unique challenges like being responsible for a larger family or a pet.

“Housing instability affecting the older veteran population, women veterans or veterans caring for children, and veterans who have a companion animal, need to be considered when developing plans for emergency shelter beds, transitional housing, and creating more affordable, accessible housing,” said Brig. Gen. Maureen Weigl, Deputy Adjutant General for Veterans Affairs, Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs.

Other testifiers highlighted struggles including not having DD-214 papers for veterans, which delays being able to connect veterans with services and programs that are designated for them, and the income cutoff for those services being too low.

One example of a community program to help veterans is Veterans Place on Washington Boulevard in Pittsburgh, which provides a safe haven where veterans can continue their recovery from chronic mental illness.

“Today, we heard about the great work being done at Veterans Place on Washington Boulevard, as well as other ways groups are trying to help veterans, including tiny homes and faith-based counseling. A lot is being done for the benefit of our veterans, and it’s important to get the word out so they know about the services available to assist them in moving forward in their life,” Stefano said.

“While we heard some stories about despair, we also heard incredible stories from veterans who were struggling but got the help that we’re here to highlight today. Hearing how dedicated they are to doing the work to help others who are experiencing the same issues was truly inspirational,” Pittman said.

 

CONTACT:    Nathan Silcox, 717-787-7175 (Stefano’s office)

                         Sarah Stauffer, 717-787-8724 (Pittman’s office)

Joint public hearing on efforts to address veterans homelessness

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Urban Affairs and Housing Committee and Senate Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee

Tuesday, July 26, 2022 | 10:30 a.m. 

Veterans Place
945 Washington Boulevard
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

AGENDA

Public hearing on veterans homelessness

SCHEDULE

10:30 am: Call to Order and Opening Remarks

  • Senator Pat Stefano, Chair – Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee
  • Senator Joe Pittman, Chair – Urban Affairs & Housing Committee
  • Senator Nikil Saval, Minority Chair – Urban Affairs & Housing Committee
  • Senator Katie Muth, Minority Chair – Veterans Affairs & Emergency Preparedness Committee

10:40 am: Panel #1: State & County Government Entities

11:40 am: Panel #2: Western PA Regional Entities

1:20 pm: Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Public hearing on housing issues

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Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Thursday, April 14, 2022 | 10 a.m.

Living Water Church, Kittanning, Armstrong County

Agenda

Public hearing on housing issues

Schedule

10:00 am: Opening Remarks
• Senator Joe Pittman, Chair – Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
• Senator Nikil Saval, Minority Chair

10:15 am: Panel #1: Community Organizations Blight Prevention and Response
• Andrew Laddusaw – Senior Pastor of the Living Water Church – Testimony
• Julie Fitzpatrick – Executive Director of Pennsylvania Downtown Center – Testimony
• LEVEL: Equity Buildings 
         o Jason Tigano – Executive Director of LEVEL – Testimony
         o Marc Little – President of Emery Construction Services

11:00 am: Panel #2: County Agencies Blight Prevention and Response
• LuAnn Zak – Assistant Director of the Indiana County Office of Planning and
Development – Testimony
• Brigid Beatty – Program Manager of the Armstrong County Department of Planning and
Development – Testimony
• Brian Lawrence – Executive Director of the Redevelopment Authority of the County of
Westmoreland (RACW) and Westmoreland County Land Bank – Testimony

11:45 am: Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Public hearing on housing issues

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Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Thursday, April 7, 2022  |  10:00 a.m.

Independence Visitor Center, Philadelphia
599 Market St
1 N. Independence Mall West
Philadelphia, PA

Agenda

Public hearing on housing issues

Schedule

10:00 am: Opening Remarks

  • Senator Joe Pittman, Chair – Urban Affairs and Housing Committee
  • Senator Nikil Saval, Minority Chair

10:15 am: Panel #1: Blight Prevention and Deferred Maintenance

  • Professor Vincent Reina – Associate Professor in the Department of City and Regional Planning at the University of Pennsylvania – Testimony
  • Steve Luxton – Executive Director and CEO of the Energy Coordinating Agency – Testimony
  • David Thomas – President and CEO of the Philadelphia Housing Development Corporation (PHDC) – Testimony

11:00 am: Panel #2: Blight Response and Land Banks

  • Jenny Greenberg – Executive Director of Neighborhood Gardens Trust – Testimony
  • Angel Rodriguez – Executive Director of the Philadelphia Land Bank – Testimony
  • Andy Toy – Policy Director at the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations (PACDC) – Testimony

11:45 am: Closing Remarks and Adjournment

Meeting to consider SB 297, SB 811 and HB 581

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Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Wednesday, March 30, 2022 | 10:00 a.m.

Room 461, Main Capitol Building

Agenda

Meeting to consider SB 297, SB 811 and HB 581

Schedule

  • SB 297 – Argall – Amends Title 53 to eliminate spot appeals of property assessments.
  • SB 811 – Fontana – Amends the Municipal Claim and Tax Lien Law (MCTLL) to grant Cities and Counties of the Second Class the ability to acquire property at sheriff sales.
  • HB 581 – Solomon – Creates the Affordable Housing Unit Tax Exemption Act to allow local governments the option of abating property taxes to encourage the development of affordable housing.
    • A03763 – Pittman – Technical amendment to correct section numbering and
      requires all local taxing authorities to participate in one of the program options
      before the program can be implemented.

Meeting to consider SB 157 and SB 439

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Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Wednesday, April 28, 2021 | 10:30 a.m.

Senate Chamber and Virtual Participation

Meeting to consider SB 157 and SB 439

Meeting to consider SB 109

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Senate Urban Affairs and Housing Committee

Tuesday, September 8, 2020 at 1:30 (Senate Chamber and Remote Participation)