Deadline Extended for Child Tax Credit Applications

The filing deadline for families to apply is now November 15, using the new GetCTC tool.

Families may also use the IRS Non-filer Sign Up Tool to apply.

Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline

This Saturday is POST 2021 @ Crane Arts & Crane Old School!

It's that time of year again! Come visit us this SUNDAY for POST (Philadelphia Open Studio Tours) to see what our talented tenants have been working on all year in their studios!

Other Old/South Kensington studios participating in the OPEN STUDIOS Tour:

Theory Studios - Sharktown Studios Fidget Space
1714 N Mascher St 155 Cecil B Moore

Buzz Cafe Studio
1800 n Howard Street

BAHDEEBAHDU
1522 N. American Street

NextFab North Philly
1800 N American St.

Putnam Building
1627 N 2nd St

Join Us on October 21st

2021 marks a decade in the Community!

Philadelphia is celebrating a major milestone in its ongoing mission
to reduce water pollution.

RSVP and Learn More here.

Volunteer on: Saturday, October 23rd, 10am to noon

Meet at the Rain Garden at the intersection of Master & American Streets

Help mark storm drains to raise awareness about litter and help keep our waterways clean. Join Master Watershed Steward Sarah Roche to mark and clear debris from storm drains in the neighborhood. Learn how to locate and check off drains using the app.

Gloves and safety vests will be provided.
Bring a mask and some drinking water.

The Storm Drain Marking Program is part of the Philadelphia Water Department and is coordinated by the Partnership for the Delaware Estuary.

LIHEAP opens October 18, 2021

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

2021 Small Business Credit Survey

This voluntary survey is sponsored solely by the Federal Reserve Banks.
The questions are best answered by an owner or key financial decision maker and will take about 10 minutes.

Take survey here

A voter guide to Pennsylvania’s 2021 judicial elections

Katie Meyer, WHYY

In Pennsylvania, the partisan election means judges must run under the umbrella of a political party, raise money through campaign committees, and collect endorsements from political groups. There are crucial differences from other political races, though. Judicial candidates aren’t allowed to solicit donations directly. They also can’t promise to rule a certain way on any specific issues.

Here is a guide to the roles and recent histories of the courts, and the candidates who are hoping for a chance to shape them.

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.