Consumer Resources

State Housing Information

Pennsylvania Office of Financial Education – Housing Information http://www.moneysbestfriend.com/

Pennsylvania Housing Finance Agency (PHFA)
www.phfa.org/

PHFA Quick Start Housing Resources – Lackawanna County:
www.phfa.org/forms/housing_services/resources/hs_lackawanna.pdf

State Agencies

PA Department of Education:
www.pde.state.pa.us/

PA Department of Health:
www.dsf.health.state.pa.us/health/site/default.asp
Includes information on emergency preparedness

PA Department of Insurance:
http://www.insurance.pa.gov/Pages/default.aspx

PA Department of Labor & Industry:
www.dli.state.pa.us/
Includes information on permits, building codes, etc.

Information on contractors certified as lead based paint abatement contractors:
http://www.dli.pa.gov/Individuals/Labor-Management-Relations/bois/Pages/Lead-Occupations.aspx

PA Department of Military & Veterans Affairs:
www.milvet.state.pa.us/DMVA/index.htm

PA Office of Financial Education:
www.moneysbestfriend.com/

PA Housing Finance Agency:
www.phfa.org

PA Public Utility Commission:
www.puc.state.pa.us/

PA Department of Public Welfare (Apply for benefits online through COMPASS):
https://www.compass.state.pa.us/Compass.Web/public/cmphome

PA Law Help: guide to free legal information and legal services:
www.palawhelp.org

Office of Children, Youth & Families:
http://www.dhs.pa.gov/learnaboutdhs/dhsorganization/officeofchildrenyouthandfamilies/

Office of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services:
http://www.dhs.pa.gov/citizens/mentalhealthservices/

Office of Long Term Living:
http://www.dhs.pa.gov/learnaboutdhs/dhsorganization/officeoflongtermliving/

Department of Community & Economic Development:
www.newpa.com

Department of Aging:
www.aging.state.pa.us/

Office of Consumer Advocate: The Pennsylvania Office of Consumer Advocate was established by the General Assembly in 1976 to represent the consumers of Pennsylvania in matters involving their utility service.
www.oca.state.pa.us/

PA Commission on Human Relations: Discrimination, prejudice and bias, three words that can mean a lot of things to a lot of people. Our purpose is to provide you with answers to questions that you may have about the Commission, our procedures and our role within Pennsylvania: investigating complaints of discrimination and monitoring bias-related crimes and tension within our communities. . www.phrc.state.pa.us/

Federal Agencies

Government National Mortgage Association (Ginnie Mae):
www.ginniemae.gov/

Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD):
www.hud.gov/

• HUD: Home & Communities Fair Housing Page: www.hud.gov/offices/fheo/FHLaws/index.cfm
• HUD in Pennsylvania:
  www.hud.gov/local/index.cfm?state=pa
• HUD Rental Assistance and Programs:
  www.hud.gov/renting/
• FY2008 Income Limits (All States):
  www.huduser.org/datasets/il/il08/FY08_StateIncomeLimits.pdf
• FY2008 Income Limits (PA Counties and Metropolitan Statistical Areas):
  www.huduser.org/Datasets/IL/IL08/pa_fy2008.pdf
• HUD Tenant Information (Includes information on rights, responsibilities and links to related information):
  www.hud.gov/groups/tenants.cfm
• Low Income Apartment Search:
  www.hud.gov/apps/section8/index.cfm
• Public Housing Eligibility & Information:
  www.hud.gov/renting/phprog.cfm
• Housing Choice Voucher Program Fact Sheet (Section 8):
  www.hud.gov/offices/pih/programs/hcv/about/fact_sheet.cfm

The Federal Register (Published by the Office of the Federal Register, National Archives and Records Administration (NARA), the Federal Register is the official daily publication for rules, proposed rules, and notices of Federal agencies and organizations, as well as executive orders and other presidential documents):
https://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/search/getfrtoc.action

American with Disabilities Links

American with Disabilities Act: (Housing Design Information)
www.ada.gov/

The Administration on Developmental Disabilities ensures that individuals with developmental disabilities and their families participate in the design of and have access to culturally competent services, supports, and other assistance and opportunities that promotes independence, productivity, and integration and inclusion into the community. http://www.acf.hhs.gov/programs/add/

Disability.gov provides quick and easy access to comprehensive information about disability programs, services, laws and benefits. You can begin your search by visiting any of the nine subject areas at the top of this page. To find disability resources in your state just click on the Find State and Local Resources map located in each of these subject areas.
https://www.disability.gov/

National Council on Independent Living:
http://www.ncil.org/

Energy Conservation

Winterizing your home:
http://homebuying.about.com/od/buyingahome/qt/92607_WinterHom.htm

Other Important Links

PA Association of Housing & Redevelopment Agencies:
www.pahra.org

National Alliance of HUD Tenants (NAHT):
www.saveourhomes.org/

Offers tenants and interested community members insights into organizing, understanding tenants’ rights and opportunities for training on Section 8 and related issues.

National Fair Housing Advocate:
www.fairhousing.com/
This is a resource designed to serve both the fair housing advocacy community and the general public with timely news and information regarding the issues of housing discrimination.    Professional & consumer

Housing Assistance Council information for individuals:
http://www.ruralhome.org/index.php

National Center for Healthy Housing:
www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/

• Maintenance Checklist
  http://www.nchh.org/Portals/0/Contents/Maintenance_Checklist2009.pdf

The National Low Income Housing Coalition
http://nlihc.org/

Technical Assistance Collaborative, Inc.:
http://www.tacinc.org/
TAC is a national non-profit organization that works to achieve positive outcomes on behalf of people with disabilities, people who are homeless, and people with other special needs by providing state-of-the-art information, capacity building, and technical expertise to organizations and policymakers in the areas of mental health, substance abuse, human services, and affordable housing

Home Modifications

Resource Chart:
http://homemods.jevs.org/resourcechart.asp

Other contacts:
https://mycil.org/
www.sdhp.org