Passages to Recovery has been helping people in our community rebuild their lives for more than 50 years. I’m excited to announce that they recently secured a $500,000 grant to relaunch a peer-advocacy support system that helps people in the justice system with substance use disorders. Visit this page to learn more and this page to read more about Passages to Recovery.

The funding is part of a larger package of grants. Overall, Allegheny County secured $7.3 million in grants to support various programs aiding crime victims and community safety. You can read more here.

Last Monday, the NAACP held a wonderful Holiday Open House at the Jeron X. Grayson Community Center. Thank you to Jacqueline Hill (above left, second from left), President of the Pittsburgh Branch of the NAACP, for hosting a wonderful get-together!

Also last Monday, I presented a legislative citation to Sylvia Martinelli (above center), who is completing her term as president of the Wilkins Township Board of Commissioners. We honored Sylvia for her long history of community and public service as a teacher, an elected official, and in so many other roles.

On Tuesday, I joined County Councilman DeWitt Walton at Braddock Hills' last council meeting of the year. I presented Mayor Jack Brown and Police Chief Dean Helinski with legislative citations honoring their years of service to the borough. Mayor Brown is completing his final term, and Chief Helinski will be continuing as an officer in the new regionalized police force serving both Braddock Hills and Swissvale.

The borough of Wilkinsburg is developing a comprehensive plan to guide decision-making and investment over the next 10–20 years, and our office joined residents last Wednesday to attend a public input meeting about the plan. Residents heard and discussed various aspects of the plan and offered feedback on topics such as affordable living, the business district, transportation options, parks, utilities, and more. Visit this page to learn more about the plan.

On Thursday, our office toured the Children’s Home of Pittsburgh. Visit this page to learn more about the wealth of services this wonderful group provides for our community.

Neighbors had a great time last Thursday at the Rankin Holiday Light Up Night at the Woodland Hills Impact Center. Families enjoyed selecting gifts, decorating cookies, making ornaments, and playing basketball, and kids enjoyed the bounce house.

On Friday, Aaron and I attended a lively annual meeting and celebration hosted by the Mon Metro Chamber of Commerce.

Thanks to terrific volunteers and a little help from Santa, the Braddock Community Holiday Party last Saturday brought lots of smiles! Below, the tree for Braddock Light Up Night was adorned and waiting to shine!

This is a reminder that Dec. 31 is the deadline to file for a rebate on property taxes or rent you paid in 2024.

The program is available to income-eligible seniors ages 65 or older, widows and widowers ages 50 or older, and disabled residents ages 18 or older. It was recently expanded to provide larger rebates – between $380 to $1,000 – and to benefit more residents. (The income limit is $46,520 for both homeowners and renters.)

Visit pa.gov/PTRR to learn more about the program and this page to apply online. Please remember that my office can help you determine whether you are eligible, and, if so, we can help you apply.

If you need health insurance, please be aware that open enrollment in Pennie – the state’s health insurance marketplace – is going on now until Jan. 15. If you enroll by Dec. 15, your coverage will begin on Jan. 1. If you enroll between Dec. 16 and Jan. 15, your coverage will begin on Feb. 1.

There are some rate changes likely for 2026. Since 2021, the federal government has offered enhanced tax credits that help make health insurance less expensive for Pennie enrollees. Unfortunately, those tax credits are expiring at the end of this year, and Congress has not so far acted to extend them for 2026. You can learn more here.

Visit this page to compare plans and enroll. For help signing up, call 1-844-844-8040 or visit www.pennie.com/connect.

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program can provide income-eligible households with cash and crisis grants – which do not need to be repaid.

Cash grants between $200 and $1,000 are available based on your household size, income, and fuel type. This one-time payment is sent directly to your utility provider or fuel company to be credited on your bill.

If you are experiencing an emergency related to your household heat, you might also qualify for a crisis grant. Visit this page to learn more and apply. You can also contact our office for help applying.

Please remember that our office can help you with a wide range of state-related matters, from filing for a Property Tax/Rent Rebate to obtaining a Senior ConnectCard, to navigating state benefits – and much more. Contact us to see how we can help.

If you’re searching for a state grant, you can find a list of the latest program openings here and a state grant-finding search tool here.

You can read my e-newsletter in a way that’s preferable to you by visiting my legislative website here and clicking on the accessibility icon in the lower right corner.