Check out our recently-updated Human Services booklet!

Emergency Rental Assistance Program

Venango County Community Support Services (CSS) has received Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services. These funds will be used to assist the residents of Venango County who are struggling with rent and utilities due to a COVID-19.  

If you are financially impacted by COVID-19 and currently rent your home, you may be eligible for past and future assistance on your rent and utility payments towards your past due utility bills. All applicants must meet specific income guidelines and demonstrate that they were affected by COVID-19 after March 13, 2020. 

How to Apply?

• Online applications are available through COMPASS:   https://www.compass.state.pa.us (to access the application on COMPASS, a link for ERAP will be made available under “What We Offer” in the top menu bar).  
• Paper applications and additional information are available by calling Community Support Services (CSS) at 814-432-9250 or by email at venangoerap@co.venango.pa.us 
• Pick up a paper copy at 1 Dale Avenue, Franklin, PA 16323, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• A printable version of the application is also available here:  Click for Printable Application

State Guidelines

Emergency rental assistance will be offered to eligible individuals and households in Venango County who are obligated to pay rent on a residential dwelling and someone in the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19, has demonstrated a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and has a household income that is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income.  With priority given to rental households that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI. 

Emergency utility and home energy assistance to be offered to individuals and households who are rental households within the county who have utility and home energy obligations , including electricity, gas, water/sewer, trash removal and heating and the household has qualified for unemployment benefits or experienced a reduction in household income or other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to COVID-19, has demonstrated a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability and has a household income that is not more than 80% of the Area Median Income.  All utilities will need to be in the household members name or be able to prove that they are the person responsible for payment.  This proof can be in the form of rental lease, utility bill, statement from the utility provider that the individual was making payments on the account prior to COVID-19.  With priority given to rental households that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI. 

The following definition has been established to assist the agency in qualifying COVID-19 related to rental households who are experiencing homelessness, at risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability. Assistance is available for rental households with an obligation to pay rent on a residential dwelling or utility and home energy obligations:  

• One or more members who qualified for unemployment benefits, experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly to job loss or reduction of hours and unable to find employment.
• Individuals who need to terminate employment due to school closures, homeschooling, or caring for disabled or persons vulnerable to COVID-19 
• Households with one or more members who demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability 
• Households with an annual or monthly household income up to 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) for the household.  With priority given to household that fall into the 30% and 50% AMI 

Documentation Requirements:

• Qualified for unemployment benefits 

• Experienced a reduction in household income, incurred significant costs, or experienced other financial hardship due, directly or indirectly, to the COVID-19 outbreak.
• Written and clause for this determination is permitted and must be either a written attestation signed by the applicant that one or more members of the household meet this condition or other relevant documentation regarding the household member’s qualification for unemployment benefits.  If the grantee is relying on clause the applicant will be required to provide documentation that one or more individuals within the household can demonstrate a risk of experiencing homelessness or housing instability
• A past due or termination of their utility or rental eviction notice, a letter from a homeless shelter or domestic violence shelter or similar type of programs.
• Unsafe or unhealthy living conditions – letter from physician, code enforcement officer or support staff i.e. case manager, Social Service agency.
• Any other evidence of risk, as determined by the grantee

   Contact us

  Phone:           814-432-9250 

  Email:             venangoerap@co.venango.pa.us

                         (24 hours a day/7 days a week)  

Water Bill Assistance

Transportation 

Our Mission

“To assure the safety of our customers, to preserve their families, and to enhance the quality of their lives.”

Who Are We?

Venango County Human Services is a branch of county government that is managed by the Venango County Commissioners. It is directed by a Human Services Administrator who works with categorical and system directors and managers to ensure that a comprehensive continuum of high quality services is available to qualifying residents of Venango County. We are among the 30 counties in the Commonwealth that are part of the Human Services Block Grant. While the county continues to work within the regulatory parameters of the traditional categorical systems, our focus has been to move away from disability-oriented systems of care to a structure based on Life Stages. The stages include: Children and Families, Emerging Adults, Adults, and Older Adults.

This shift in focus to Life Stages has resulted in integrated service coordination and partnerships with non-traditional providers like community supports, the faith community, businesses, and more. Monitoring for service providers, evaluation, and quality improvement are all based on the Life Stage orientation as well. The main purpose of this change was to ensure individuals and families are safe and secure in the least restrictive setting. Through our successful integration, we have enabled county residents to heal, grow, and recover by receiving services that are demonstrated to be appropriate, cost effective, accessible, and that meet an assessed need.

Community Support

Venango County Human Services directly manages the categorical systems that offer services for: Older Adults, Children and Youth, Mental Health and Development, Substance Abuse, and a variety of programs collectively managed by our Community Supports Services team (CSS). We also partner with Mercer and Crawford counties to directly manage the HealthChoices Program, under the auspices of the North West Behavioral Health Partnership, offering behavioral health services collaboratively between the three counties. Venango County contracts with a large number of community service organizations to provide prevention and treatment assistance to county residents.

Local Food Pantries

Many people in Venango County are struggling to put food on the table. We have compiled a list a resources that can be used to aid in receiving food. 

1. WIC (Women, Infant, and Children) - provides supplemental food and nutrition education for pregnant and breastfeeding women who have given birth within the past six months and for children up to age 5. Shenango Valley Urban League, Inc. is the provider. Referrals can be made via WIC Venango or by calling 814-432-9892.

WIC Venango office hours are: Mon, Tues, Thurs, Fri - 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. and Weds 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

2. SNAP/Food Stamps - If eligible, you will be able to use your allocation at the grocery store to purchase your own food. Applications may be submitted online through COMPASS or by calling toll-free at 877-409-2421 or locally at 814-432-4341. SNAP is administered through Venango County Assistance Office located at 530 13th Street, Franklin, PA 16323.

County Assistance office hours are:

Mon to Fri - 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

3. Local Food Pantries - Food pantries in Venango County are provided through community members such as churches, social services organizations, food banks, and more. Many of these programs do have eligibility guidelines but have been adjusting to meet the needs of county residents. Second Harvest also has a food pantry locator if you need to find one that is closest to you. The links are below:

Local Food Pantries

Second Harvest Food Bank

September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

Words Matter. It can feel uncomfortable, and sometimes even scary, to talk about mental health and suicide prevention. By finding the courage within ourselves to engage in open discussions, we can help save lives. Here are some tips that may help when engaging in courageous conversations:

• Practice using nonjudgmental language when discussing suicide. 

• Present suicide as a preventable event.

 • When talking about a suicide death, utilize language that is sensitive to the grieving family.

• Use objective terms for suicidal events, such as “death by suicide” or “non-fatal attempt.” 

• Avoid using the words "commit or complete suicide." The phrase "committed suicide" is usually associated with a sin or a crime, which suicide is neither. Using the words "completed suicide" conveys success or accomplishing something good, which suicide is not. The proper term for someone who has taken their own life is "died by suicide." Also acceptable is "killed him/her/theirself” or "took their own life.”

Warning Signs

Here are a few other warning signs of suicide:

• Increased alcohol and drug use
• Aggressive behavior
• Withdrawal from friends, family and community 
• Dramatic mood swings
• Impulsive or reckless behavior

Suicidal behaviors are a psychiatric emergency. If you or a loved one starts to take any of these steps, seek immediate help from a health care provider or call 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline:

• Collecting and saving pills or buying a weapon
• Giving away possessions
• Tying up loose ends, like organizing personal papers or paying off debts
• Saying goodbye to friends and family

If you are unsure, a licensed mental health professional can help assess.

Risk Factors

Research has found that 46% of people who die by suicide had a known mental health condition. Several other factors may put a person at risk of suicide, including but not limited to:

• A family history of suicide
• Substance use: Drugs can create mental highs and lows that worsen suicidal thoughts.
• Intoxication: Analysis from the CDC indicates around 1 in 5 people who die by suicide had alcohol in their system at the time of death.
• Access to firearms
• A serious or chronic medical illness
• Gender: Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.
• A history of trauma or abuse
• Prolonged stress
• A recent tragedy or loss

Support In A Crisis

When a suicide-related crisis occurs, friends and family are often caught off-guard, unprepared and unsure of what to do. The behaviors of a person experiencing a crisis can be unpredictable, changing dramatically without warning.

There are a few ways to approach a suicide-related crisis:

• Talk openly and honestly. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like: “Do you have a plan for how you would kill yourself?”
• Remove means such as guns, knives or stockpiled pills
• Calmly ask simple and direct questions, like “Can I help you call your psychiatrist?”
• If there are multiple people around, have one person speak at a time
• Express support and concern
• Don’t argue, threaten or raise your voice
• Don’t debate whether suicide is right or wrong
• If you’re nervous, try not to fidget or pace
• Be patient

Like any other health emergency, it’s important to address a mental health crisis like suicide quickly and effectively. Unlike other health emergencies, mental health crises don’t have instructions or resources on how to help or what to expect (like the Heimlich Maneuver or CPR). That’s why NAMI created Navigating a Mental Health Crisis: A NAMI Resource Guide for Those Experiencing a Mental Health Emergency, so people experiencing mental health emergencies and their loved ones can have the answers and information they need when they need it.

If your friend or family member struggles with suicidal ideation day-to-day, let them know that they can talk with you about what they’re going through. Make sure that you adopt an open and compassionate mindset when they’re talking. Instead of “arguing” or trying to disprove any negative statements they make (“Your life isn’t that bad!”), try active listening techniques such as reflecting their feelings and summarizing their thoughts. This can help your loved one feel heard and validated.

Let them know that mental health professionals are trained to help people understand their feelings and improve mental wellness and resiliency. Psychotherapy, like cognitive behavioral therapy and dialectical behavior therapy, can help a person with thoughts of suicide recognize ineffective patterns of thinking and behavior, validate their feelings and learn positive coping skills. Suicidal thoughts are a symptom, just like any other — they can be treated, and they can improve over time.

Suicide is not the answer. There is hope.

Now in its 32nd year, Recovery Month celebrates the gains made by those in recovery, just as we celebrate improvements made by those who are managing other health conditions such as hypertension, diabetes, asthma, and heart disease. Each September, Recovery Month works to promote and support new evidence-based treatment and recovery practices, the emergence of a strong and proud recovery community, and the dedication of service providers and community members across the nation who make recovery in all its forms possible.

Recovery Month increases awareness and understanding of mental health and substance use disorders and encourages individuals in need of treatment and recovery services to seek help. Recovery Month celebrates individuals living lives in recovery and recognizes the dedicated workers who provide the prevention, treatment, and recovery support services that help make recovery possible. In 2022, it was decided to replace the annual theme for Recovery Month with a permanent tagline. The 2021 Recovery Month theme, “Recovery is for Everyone: Every Person, Every Family, Every Community” reminded people in recovery and those who support them, that recovery belongs to all of us. We are all called to end gatekeeping and welcome everyone to recovery by lowering barriers to recovery support, creating inclusive spaces and programs, and broadening our understanding of what recovery means for people with different experiences. Moving forward, we have adopted “Every Person. Every Family. Every Community.” as our permanent tagline.