On July 14, 2021, Meg Snead, Acting Secretary of the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services (DHS), asked school officials for help in ensuring that Pennsylvania families experiencing economic hardship due to the pandemic are connected to services and supports that will allow them to meet basic needs – food, housing, healthcare.

The Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021 allocated more than $800 million to Pennsylvania to establish the Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP), which can provide direct assistance for unpaid and upcoming rent and utility bills and other costs related to housing. Applications are currently being accepted, with the end of the federal eviction moratorium approaching at the end of July. Thus, Pennsylvanians need to know that ERAP is there to help and to begin the application process ASAP to avoid additional public health and economic crises that would come with a wave of evictions.

According to Ms. Snead, DHS is continuing to promote ERAP at the state level, but the success of this program hinges on the ability to coordinate with trusted service providers at the local level who can deliver this information directly to families. As school administrators and educators, she is requesting that all consider promoting ERAP in their buildings, newsletters, and social media.

To assist with this, DHS has developed a media kit, which includes:

• Flyers
• Newsletter text
• Social media posts and graphics
• Talking points
• Sample press releases
• Sample media pitch email
• Sample op-ed

These assets are available on the DHS website. This media kit was designed to help DHS and our partners continue to promote this program. Officials are urged to use any or all of these resources to help promote ERAP to their clients, constituents, and networks. The flyers, newsletter text, and social media posts were translated and are available in seven languages. The media kit includes messaging that targets tenants AND landlords who can apply on behalf of tenants and may be able to stabilize circumstances and avoid evictions with ERAP assistance. Anyone can apply for the program, even if they have not used DHS benefits before. This program is an opportunity to stabilize difficult circumstances that many are in after more than 17 months of a pandemic and historic economic insecurity. ERAP can be that stabilizing factor.

Inquiries should be directed to the DHS Press Office at [email protected].

At the July PA State Board of Education meeting, Secretary Noe Ortega informed everyone that he spent his first day as the PA Education Secretary helping to distribute meals to children in need and expressed his gratitude to the USDA for continuing to provide meals. He also recognized that this week is National Summer Learning Week. In addition, he expressed optimism as we move into the 2021-22 school year. His optimism is based on the resiliency shown by our students, staff, and communities over the past year-and-a-half.

Sec. Ortega recognized the recently passed state budget and praised the funds set aside for the Level Up PA program, which is aimed at decreasing the learning gap. These funds are an equity supplement that will be shared among Pennsylvania’s 100 poorest school districts and are in addition to the state’s basic education subsidy for all school districts.

With regard to the ongoing pandemic, Sec. Ortega said that PDE is working with school officials as they prepare for 2021-22. He stated that much of the decision making responsibility has been placed on LEAs and that PDE will be acting as a “sense maker” as federal guidance is received.

Sec. Ortega was followed by Deputy Sec. Dr. Sherri Smith, who reported on the state’s  ARP ESSR Plan for 2021-22. All funds must be awarded by September 30, 2022 and obligated by September 30, 2024. PA’s total award is expected to be $5.001 billion. PDE’s Final ARP ESSR Plan will be submitted to the US Department of Education (USDE) on July 16, 2021. Dr. Smith also said that stakeholders involved in the process listed the top three priorities for funding as: student and teacher mental health; online connectivity; and staffing shortages.

The only action item the Board addressed was its 2022 meeting calendar. Meeting dates for 2022 were approved as follows: January 12-13; March 13-16; May 4-5; July 13-14; September 14-15; and November 9-10.

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE), Pennsylvania K-12 schools will have the option to continue offering free nutritious school meals during the 2021-22 school year.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), Food & Nutrition Services (FNS) released a group of waivers and eligibility guidelines allowing schools to offer the meals without determining eligibility based on the student’s household income. 

“I’m grateful to the USDA for their commitment to combating hunger throughout this pandemic,” said Secretary of Education Noe Ortega. “I encourage schools to take advantage of these waivers, which help ensure learners across Pennsylvania continue to have access to free, nutritious meals.”

Participating schools will operate under the Seamless Summer Option (SSO) and will receive a higher federal reimbursement rate per meal.

Schools that elect not to serve free meals through the SSO will determine eligibility for free and reduced-price meals through the National School Lunch Program (NSLP) using federal income guidelines. The annually updated income eligibility guidelines for the 2021-22 school year have been released by the USDA.

The new eligibility guidelines went into effect July 1, 2021 and allows schools and other institutions and facilities to determine eligibility for the NSLP, the School Breakfast Program, the Special Milk Program for Children, the Child and Adult Care Food Program, the Summer Food Service Program, and the Pandemic Electronic Benefit Transfer. To apply, households already receiving benefits from the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) need only include the SNAP or TANF case number on their application if not notified of their automatic eligibility by the school. Households enrolled in the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) may qualify for free or reduced-price school meals and should complete a Household Meal Benefit Application. Other households can find more information on Pennsylvania’s COMPASS website.

On July 8, 2021, the PA Department of Human Services (DHS) announced that all County Assistance Offices (CAO) will resume in-person operations for clients on July 12, 2021. On-site CAO services will provide clients with access to DHS’ caseworkers and services if they cannot access online services or need assistance that cannot be accessed through the COMPASS website, the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, or by calling the Customer Service Center. 

“No one should be forgoing services that help them live well and meet essential needs, so whether you visit a CAO in-person or access services via our website and mobile app, DHS is here to help you. I want to thank everyone for their patience while our CAOs were closed to in-person services throughout the COVID-19 pandemic,” said Acting DHS Secretary Meg Snead. “Because our clients were able to access services online, we had the opportunity to keep the public and our staff safe from COVID-19 while still providing access to health care, food, and other essential needs to those who needed them. However, our CAOs are still a vital local resource for Pennsylvanians who need assistance, so we are pleased to be able to resume in-person services on July 12.”

The CAOs will be following guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and Pennsylvania Department of Health (PDH) to ensure the health and safety of clients and staff. While CAOs will not require masks to be worn inside at all times, visitors who are not vaccinated or who prefer to wear masks are encouraged to do so.

DHS’ online applications and resources will remain accessible at www.compass.pa.state.us and the myCOMPASS PA mobile app, and clients are still encouraged to use online and mobile services whenever possible. Clients can apply for benefits, make updates to their case, and submit paperwork virtually. The following key services can be accessed online without going into a CAO:

• Apply for Medical Assistance, the Children’s Health Insurance Program, cash assistance, Supplementary Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP);
• Find out how to apply for Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) benefits;
• Submit benefit renewal information;
• Review benefits and case record information;
• Report a change in case information; and,
• Upload verification documents.

The best way for residents to learn more information about ERAP and to apply for the program is through www.compass.pa.state.us. Two-thirds of Pennsylvania counties have partnered with DHS to make their ERAP applications available to their residents online. If a person tries to apply through the COMPASS website but indicates that they reside in one of the 22 counties with its own application, they will be provided with information about how to apply, including a link to the county application if available. ERAP applications are not accepted or processed in-person at CAOs, so Pennsylvanians should continue to use COMPASS to apply for rental and utility assistance through ERAP.

Assistance can also be reached over the phone by contacting the Customer Service Centers where caseworkers are available to speak directly with callers to answer questions. Clients in Philadelphia with questions, information to report about their case, or who need a paper application mailed to them should call the Philadelphia Customer Service Center at 215-560-7226. Clients in all other counties can call the Statewide Customer Service Center at 1-877-395-8930.

For more information about assistance programs administered through DHS, visit www.dhs.pa.gov