LIHEAP opens October 18, 2021

Want to be notified by PGW when LIHEAP applications become available? The program officially opens on October 18 and we don’t want you to miss out on up to $1,500!
Complete the form here and you’ll receive a text or email alert from PGW when LIHEAP applications are available.

For more information, please read PGW's LIHEAP FAQs

Click Here to Sign Up!

Philadelphia NeighborhoodLIFT Down Payment Assistance will be available beginning October 11, 2021 9:00 a.m.

NeighborhoodLIFT is a down payment assistance program that provides a $15,000 grant for down payment and closing costs to eligible homebuyers in Philadelphia. The grant is structured as a ‘soft second’ mortgage loan that is conditionally forgivable over the five-year term of the LIFT loan.
LIFT is funded through a national partnership between Wells Fargo Foundation and NeighborWorks America. NHS Greater Berks will administer the LIFT program in Philadelphia in partnership with New Kensington Community Development Corporation and HACE.
The program officially opens October 11, but now is a great time to make an appointment and line up the things you will need to qualify. Visit nkcdc.org/NeighborhoodLIFT or contact Amanda Garayua at agarayua@hace.org or call 215-426-8025 x 3008 for more information.

Plastic Bag Ban

You can download information and signs related to Philadelphia’s plastic bag ban to help businesses and residents understand its goals and requirements (FAQ).

Join us Oct. 5 to Unveil a New Drink More Tap Mural at Cruz Recreation!

You're invited: Join the Philadelphia Water Department, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and Philadelphia Parks and Recreation for the official unveiling of the Cruz Recreation Center Drink More Tap mural, located at 1431 N 6th St, on Tuesday, Oct. 5 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
We are revealing the results of a more than two-year collaboration with Mural Arts Philadelphia aimed at reaching communities where skepticism about tap water is most prevalent.
Attendees include:

• Philadelphia Water Department Commissioner Randy E. Hayman, Esq.

• Mural Arts Executive Director Jane Golden

• Philadelphia Parks and Recreation Deputy Commissioner Orlando Rendon

• Drink More Tap mural artist Calo Rosa

• Los Bomberos De la Calle, Drink More Tap featured musician

• Water Woman, Water Department Superhero

Joined by artist Carlos “CALO” Lopez Rosa and residents of two North Philadelphia communities, Mural Arts and the Water Department partnered to bring public art to areas where buying bottled water is most common.

Photos: Penrose Drink More Tap Mural Unveiling!

SKCP Community Virtual Meeting: Tenant Protection

Register in Advance here

SKCP Virtual Community Meeting: Philly 311 App

REGISTER HERE

SKCP Community Virtual Meeting: Tenant Protection

Register in Advance here

Movie Night @ Benson Park

Property Tax Assessment Appeals October 4 deadline

In Philadelphia, the Office of Property Assessment sets your property value. If you feel that the assessed value of your property as of January 1, 2022, will be lower than the property’s actual value and that an appraiser will back this up, you should consider a tax assessment appeal. The Office of Property Assessment (OPA) handles abatement and exemption programs that may reduce a property’s real estate tax bill. If a property owner disagrees with an assessment or believes that an abatement or exemption has not been properly applied, they can request a First Level Review of their assessment. You can search and compare property values through the City’s online property search application.

The deadline for filing property tax assessment appeals in Philadelphia is October 4. No appeals can be filed for 2022 after those deadlines.

The deadline for filing property tax assessment appeals in Philadelphia is October 4. No appeals can be filed for 2022 after those deadlines.

Upcoming Elections && Students Vote 2021: A Leadership Handbook

November 2, 2021 is the Municipal Election

• Polls are open on election day from 7 A.M. - 8 P.M.

• Last day to register to vote: October 18, 2021

• Last day to request a mail-in or absentee ballot: October 26, 2021

• Learn about municipal elections.

• Review the candidates and measures that are on the ballot and plan who you will vote for in advance. You can find a sample ballot from Philadelphia county election office website

• First Time Voters

Click here for Voting & Election Information

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Students Vote 2021: A Leadership Handbook
ALL IN To Vote

The ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge encourages active and informed participation in American democracy. Through Students Vote 2021, the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge provides institutions of higher education and their students with guidance and resources to promote nonpartisan voter registration and voting in 2021 elections. In addition to the college president, administrators, faculty, students, and community partners can be leaders in the effort to get all eligible students registered and voting this fall.
This handbook is written as an aid to college leaders who not only think that educating students about voting is an essential and worthwhile undertaking for an institution of higher learning, but who are also willing to be part of that effort. In this handbook, leaders will find important voting information to provide to students and ideas on how to communicate and to encourage their participation in 2021 elections. Together, college leaders across the country can remind, inform, and motivate a very large number of eligible students to vote in November 2021.

Download handbook here.

Philadelphia has a new law to prevent "We Buy Houses" scams!

Provide homeowners with a Homeowners Bill of Rights in advance, which you can find at tinyurl.com/HomeSaleRights

For more info, visit www.clsphila.org/home-scams

SKCP COMMUNITY ZONING MEETING (VIRTUAL)

SKCP's RCO will host a virtual Community Zoning Meeting [pdf] on Wednesday, September 22, 2021 at 6:30 PM.

We will review the following projects:

6.15pm 1425 N American (Clay Studio): The Clay Studio previews a new mural (View the proposed Mural here)

6.30pm 1210-12 N American (view here project plan)

7.00pm 1331 N 2nd Street (view here project plan)

7.30pm 150-80 W Berks St (view here project plan)

8.00pm 1736 N Mascher St (view here project plan)

We will have time for questions during the meeting but we ask that questions be submitted in advance, to rco@southkensingtoncommunity.org, so we can use our time well.

Please review the project, submit questions, and register here for the meeting.

If you prefer, you may also sign up by calling South Kensington Community Partners' office at215-427-3463 and leaving a message with your name and number. SKCP will provide reasonable accommodation to any neighbor that requests additional assistance with joining the meeting or otherwise submitting feedback on the projects.

InLiquid's Art for the Cash Poor public art sale

The 21st annual installment of InLiquid’s Art for the Cash Poor is a Philly-centric affordable art fair – a free and public art sale directly benefiting local artists and craftspeople. All artwork is sold for $200 or less. InLiquid’s signature affordable art fair returns to the American Street Corridor in Kensington. InLiquid is joining forces with NextFAB and the Clay Studio’s Clayfest for a multi-block artisan fair.
The event will span the length of North American Street on the west side of the street from Crane Arts on Master (1400 Block) to NextFAB’s home on Berks Street (1800 Block).

Click here for more details.

Disaster Assistance Update

Disaster assistance is now available for those who suffered property damage or loss caused by the remnants of Hurricane Ida.
Impacted businesses and residents should register with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) online at disasterassistance.gov, through the FEMA app, or by calling the FEMA Helpline at 1-800-621-FEMA (3362), or TTY 1-800-462-7585. Helpline services are available seven days a week from 7 a.m. to 1 a.m.
The U.S. Small Business Administration has opened a Business Recovery Center at the Falls of the Schuylkill Library to provide businesses and residents with one-on-one assistance in submitting a disaster loan application. See the hours below:

SBA Business Recovery Center
Falls of the Schuylkill Library
3501 Midvale Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19129

Monday and Wednesday: 12 p.m. - 8 p.m.
Tuesday and Thursday: 10 a.m. - 6 p.m.
Friday: 10 a.m. - 5 p.m.
Saturday and Sunday: Closed

Make sure to regularly check the City's storm response page for important updates and information. You can also sign up for free alerts about recovery and relief efforts through the City's ReadyPhiladelphia notification system. To receive text alerts to your phone, text STORMPHL to 888-777.

Meet your representatives @ Al-Aqsa

Al-Aqsa Islamic Society
1501 Germantown Ave
September 24th, 1-4 pm

Meet State Senator Nakil Savil
and representatives of Congressman Dwight Evans.

Staffers from Federal, State, and Local offices can answer questions and assist you with a variety of issues including Immigration, local business regulations, benefits, etc

Masks required to protect yourself and others.

Movie Night @ Benson Park

SKCP Virtual Community Meeting: Tenant Protection

SKCP Monthly Community Meeting: Philly 311 App

Plastic Bag ban is back

From July 31, 2021 to January 31, 2022, retail establishments are required to post clear and visible signage at all points of sale. These signs will tell customers that the establishment will no longer provide single-use plastic bags and non-recycled content paper bags as of the date the prohibition begins. You can download signs in multiple languages. Visit the city website for more information on the enforcement timeline.

Community First Fund: Affinity Group Lending Program