Armstrong County Community Action Partnership — Local services in Kittanning

I was going through what was probably the very darkest time of my life. I was physically sick, had just become homeless. Which I would have never thought I'd find myself in that position. But I did. I was terrified, I didn't know where to turn, needed help and was clueless as how to find any. I have luckily always been able to support myself. I've worked my entire life. But unfortunately I got sick and could no longer work. I asked around and was told to go to community action. They would help. And at first I did get some help. They directed me to the Armstrong Co housing authority so that I could get somewhere to live other than my car. That went well too.... For about a week. I was approved, had been told an efficiency apartment was available and I would likely be in it by Tuesday at the latest. This was told to me on the previous Friday. Community action had put me up out at Staley's. They paid for 1 week for me to stay. Well the Tuesday I should have been signing my lease according to a girl named Wendy at the housing authority I got a phone call from her supervisor. It took about 10 seconds for me to realize that for some reason still unknown to me that this was going to turn into a nightmare. The woman I spoke to that day was Laura Toy. She started to question me and insist that I give her a statement from a landlord to verify if I paid rent on time and whatever. Well, I never rented I owned my homes. I explained that to her. Well, then it was that my credit report "didn't make her all that warm and fuzzy either" her exact words. I was flabbergasted. Really? I was already told I was approved for this housing and now this. Long story short, I ended up having to stay at Staley's for 28 days! And the was self pay. $45 / night. I had no income at that time. She knew this. Finally, during our last conversation between Laura and I, I said straight out. Are you going to help me or not? I cannot stay here any longer as I'm not paying these people for my room . And I told her that if she didn't want to help me then she needed to give me the number of someone that would. I just desperately needed some help. For the first time in my life I had to ask for some. They literally make what was a very traumatic time in my life so much worse my being just plain mean and ignorant. I thought these people were to help those that are down and out?? They made my life an even bigger nightmare than it already was. So, after almost 1 month staying at Staley's I finally got to sign my lease at Garden Towers. The apartment I got was an efficiency. At that point it seemed like the tashmahall. I came to find out that the man living there passed away on June 24th. And it sat there empty while I was forced to stay at Staley's when I could have been in that apartment a couple days after applying like I was first told by Wendy. I never got to sign my lease until August 28th!!!! You know, people like Laura Toy and others that hold these positions should maybe look for another line of work if they truly aren't in it to help those in need. And community action refused to help with paying for staying at Staley's. I was told there was no more funding. Funny how the girl next door to me was in her 3rd week there and all she did was call community action and they paid for her. As far as I can tell this whole issue boils down to some employees letting what they feel is some kind of power over people where they can pick and choose who they help. That, and the nepotism in those facilities needs to be addressed. If you're not related to someone working there then you have no hope in getting hired. It's all family and it's wrong. Because the property manager of Garden Towers was the niece of the woman who did everything she could do so as not to help me. I was getting eviction notices twice a week. While, as I found out on my own there was the ERAP program that I could have applied for which would have paid my rent and anything else. But I had to find out all the info on my own. The ACHA never posted anything about that program in our...

The employees I have had contact with are very pleasant and helpful....a few were uptight, but given some of the publics' attitudes at times who can blame them?! I appreciate all the help they have given me and my family over the past few years. Keep up...

I got pulled over here yesterday so... Don't actually know much about the services offered but they have a real nice driveway! Lots of room for dealing with the police and off the road so my neighbors can't see I've been...