Pennsylvania Unveils Website To Help In Tough Times
Every so often a government agency releases information concerning a program or service and undersells just how great it is. I have to admit that this happens rarely both in government and in the private sector. Last week Pennsylvania outdid itself with a new website, HereToHelp.pa.gov found at www.heretohelp.pa.gov.
The press release from the Governor’s office began by discussing a canned food drive and release of weatherization kits for the winter but the heart of the message noted that “<t>he commonwealth also launched a new online resource today that will make it easier for citizens to find the resources they need through existing government programs to help make ends meet during the economic crisis.”
It went on to note that, at HereToHelp.pa.gov, Pennsylvanians can find resources grouped by topics including employment, family services, housing, older Pennsylvanians, and economic development.
“The faltering national economy has created many challenges for our families,” said Governor Rendell. “Citizens going through difficult periods often do not know where to look for help. The HereToHelp Web site puts many beneficial programs under one umbrella, making it easier for families to locate the resources that can get them through this tough time.”
My curiosity piqued, I logged onto the site and was pleasantly surprised. I would invite readers to do the same. Here are the reasons why.
Simplicity. Government is notorious for complexity and, when you find a resource that is written in plain language with straight answers, experienced readers and novices alike pay attention. The site is easy to understand and links to resources that previously could be found only by lengthy searches, if at all, of various Commonwealth departments.
Step by Step Answers. The site takes each issue or problem step by step and directs the reader to the answers. Suppose the consumer has lost his job and is looking for work. By clicking on “Employment,” he is directed first how to file for unemployment benefits. Then, under “Find a Job or Training,” he is linked into Pennsylvania’s “Career Link” where he is told how to search and view current job openings, build a resume, obtain information on occupational training providers, obtain health insurance in the interim, if possible, locate programs for special groups including Veterans, and link to workforce and career-related Web sites. Employers can also post job openings on the site. It is an easy way for potential employees and employers to come together.
Where the question is Housing, the site advises how to cope with heating expenses and find out about utility programs, learn ways to avoid foreclosure and know the protections under the law, tap into State mortgage assistance and avoid scams.
For Older Pennsylvanians, the site describes the Property Tax and Rent Rebate Program, PACE, PACENET and PACE plus Medicare, Home and Community Based Services for at-home support for frail and elderly indigent residents and the Pennsylvania Free Transit Program, among others.
Links to Other Sources. The site links to other sources and is a useful first step in identifying resources, both governmental and non-governmental. Begin with the State site and allow it to link you to other resources both inside and outside the Pennsylvania government network.
Connectivity. While consumers usually have to know what agency handles their issue in order to begin a search, the site is ordered according to the type of issue or question. This cuts through multiple agencies. The reader does not need to know how State government works in order to get an answer.
It is not just for hard times. Although unveiled as a measure to deal with hard times, the site obviously has greater applicability. It addresses such subjects as Small Business Development and Economic Growth, paying for Higher and Technical Education, and locating child care and Childrens Lighthouse cost for working parents.
It covers a wide range of questions and problems. To get an idea of the breadth of the resource, check the Family Services section as just one example. Subjects include “Feed Your Family” under the SFPP program, how CHIP, the children’s low cost health insurance program, works, “Vaccines for Children,” “Veterans Services” and Veterans’ benefits, and a federal waiver program for autism in Pennsylvania.
The Website is a welcome addition and is obviously intended to help average people, not just inform insiders. I recommend it highly as a browse through for those who want to know what programs and resources the government offers.
About the Author Janet Colliton
Esquire, Colliton Law Associates, P.C. Janet Colliton has practiced law for over 38 years, 37 of them in Chester County, Pennsylvania, a suburb of Philadelphia. Her practice, Colliton Law Associates, PC, is limited to elder law, Medicaid, including advice, applications and appeals, and other benefits planning including Veterans benefits, life care and special needs planning, guardianships, retirement, and estate planning and administration.