By Rep. Lindsay Powell

Hello neighbors, happy December! The weather has been chilly as of late, so if you have someone in your life who is struggling with paying their utility bill, the LIHEAP (Low-Income Home Energy Assistance program) application is now OPEN until April 5, 2025. Someone from my office would be happy to help you or a loved one apply to lower your energy bill!

This past month, I was able to bring back over $4.75 million to the district through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) with the help of my colleagues! State Sen. Wayne Fontana and I helped secure RACP funds for two projects: MI Strip Works, LLC which was presented with $2.5 million for constructing Building A of the eventual Brickworks residential development; and the Clemente Collection at Engine House 25 received $750,000 for installations and upgrades at The Clemente Museum.

State Sen. Lindsey Williams and I also facilitated the receipt of $1.5 million in RACP dollars for renovation to the future site of the Etna Center for Community. District 21 is home to cultural and entertainment venues that provide fun for our neighbors and attract hundreds of thousands of visitors each year. Providing more housing opportunities, a center for community connection, and preserving the legacy of one of the greatest baseball players and humanitarians of all time will continue our district’s development into a thriving place for every resident.

With the holidays just around the corner, I know that many families in our community could use these funds now more than ever. As your state representative, I want to help you get back what is rightfully yours and provide you with the resources needed to recover these assets. That’s why my office is holding an unclaimed property event with a representative from the Pennsylvania Treasury on Dec. 7 at the Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, 118 52nd St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201 from noon to 4 p.m. Unclaimed property is any asset that has been left with a bank, insurance company, business, or organization without activity for at least five years. If you have any questions, concerns, or are unable to attend the event but would still like assistance claiming your property, please don’t hesitate to contact my office!

As you know, my office hosts a Veteran Service Officer (VSO) from the Veterans of Foreign Wars of the U.S. (VFW) on the second Monday of each month. In December, the VSO will be in our office on Dec. 16-18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. each day. If you are a veteran or know a veteran who would like help in accessing their benefits, please call my office at (412) 781-2750 to schedule an appointment.

My district office is located at 5154 Butler St., Pittsburgh, PA 15201. We are open and ready to serve you, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and by appointment in the evenings on Wednesdays. We also have office hours at our Shaler office at the Shaler Municipal Building located at 300 Wetzel Road, second floor, Glenshaw, PA 15116. We will be there every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., or any weekday by appointment.

Any state related issue, or assistance that you may need, please give my office a call; even if we cannot directly help, we will do our best to put you in contact with someone who can. Here are some examples of ways we can help, but are not all encompassing of the support we offer:

• PennDOT services: car registrations and disability placard applications
• Free notary services
• Taking an acknowledgement
  • Administering an oath or affirmation
  • Taking a verification on an oath or affirmation (which includes an affidavit)
  • Witnessing or attesting a signature
  • Certifying or attesting a copy or deposition
  • Taking a note protest of a negotiable instrument
• Complaints about road conditions or infrastructure
• Unemployment compensation problems
• Property tax/rent rebate applications
• Issues related to utility companies
• Birth certificate applications and finding copies of your vital records
• Senior ConnectCard applications through Port Authority of Allegheny County

Call: (412) 781-2750 or Email: Rep-Powell@pahouse.net or stop by our office during the hours listed above.