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Westmoreland County assistance programs.

Locate help with bills and other resources

The Westmoreland Community Action agency offers a variety of programs that will help families and individuals that need short term support, housing, education, or social services. They provide short term relief with the goal of helping families improve their standard of living and become more self-sufficient over the long term. Some of the programs they offer are below. Contact them to learn more about these programs, how to apply, and they also offer additional aid.

Mortgage Assistance Program
Residents of Westmoreland County can get money to help make their mortgage payments. The program is for individuals who reside in Westmoreland County who have experienced an unfortunate turn of events, such as a job loss, medical emergency, or another crisis, and are temporarily unable to make their monthly mortgage payment. These families and individuals would receive short term funds to help make their mortgage payment without the burden of being obligated to repay the funds. It is important to note that the assistance provided is short term.

Food Aid
For this who are experiencing financial hardship, Westmoreland Community Action also operates an Emergency Food Pantry from our main office. The pantry will provide free food and groceries to a family or individual in a time of crisis. In addition to them distributing food themselves, referrals can also be made to similar services found in other communities and towns throughout Westmoreland County.

Energy and Heating Bill Assistance
This program provides emergency assistance to families and individuals in the county and Pittsburgh who may be having difficulty paying their energy and/or heating bills. WHO completes application and the person’s behalf and will connect those applicants to the appropriate energy assistance programs such as the Allegheny Power's LIPURP Program or the $1 Energy Program.

Job and Employment Services
Supported Engagement is a program that helps adults find jobs, resolve barriers, transition to education programs and locate employment. Supported Engagement is a program that runs for up to eighteen months in length with intensive case management, supportive services, including transportation assistance for program activities, and other incentives.

Their main office is located at 226 South Maple Avenue, Greensburg PA 15601.

Help for rent and energy bills
Westmoreland County officials have launched the federal government funded Homelessness Prevention and Housing Initiative. This program helps struggling people pay rent, utility bills, security deposits, and other expenses. It focuses on residents who face losing their home, who may be ejected from their rental property or apartment, or who are in danger of having their heat or electricity service turned off. 

Clients of the program will receive financial help for their housing expenses for up to 18 months after an initial consultation with a case manager. They may also be able to receive short-term help with rental payment assistance, grants for paying utility bills and rent security deposits, money for overdue utility bills and hotel vouchers if they need a place to stay.

The county government distributed the grants and money to three local nonprofit agencies, including the Westmoreland County Housing Authority, the Private Industry Council of Westmoreland/Fayette Inc., and also the Westmoreland Community Action. The housing authority was provided about $881,000 to provide rent assistance to its clients and to also assist local residents in shelters move into rent-assisted apartments. In addition, The Private Industry Council and Westmoreland Community Action were each given $429,667 to help needy residents in making rent payments, paying utility and heating bills, and funds for security deposits.