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Constituent Stories Helping a Family Get Back on Their Feet I am proud that my hard-working staff was able to help over 30 constituents with their PA Department of Human Services (DHS) benefits in October. This week we’re sharing one of their stories. A constituent reached out to our office last month to get help during an incredibly difficult time for her family. With no income and limited access to food, she was doing everything possible to keep her household afloat. Despite being approved for food and utility assistance beginning October 1, 2025, technical delays at the PA Department of Human Services left her waiting for support that had yet to arrive. To make matters worse, she had very real concerns that even if her benefits started, they might stop in November due to the federal government shutdown. “It has been incredibly hard to survive,” she shared. “We roll coins for groceries. My mom and sisters drop off food when they can. I’m diabetic—food isn’t optional, it’s medically necessary.” My staff worked with her to review details of her case and gather the documentation needed to move things forward. We helped her complete a Zero Income Statement—an important form for households without earnings—and provided additional materials confirming her eligibility to DHS. With these updates in place, her benefits were quickly reinstated. That same day, $560 in SNAP assistance was added to her EBT card, and her LIHEAP application for heating assistance was reopened and is now expected to be approved. What had been weeks of anxiety and uncertainty turned into relief and stability—all thanks to the constituent’s persistence and the collaborative effort to ensure her family received the help they needed. The federal government reopened last week, but new work requirements and other program changes have left state governments that administer these life-sustaining federal programs with a backlog. If you are facing difficulties with benefits like SNAP, LIHEAP, Medical Assistance, etc. do not hesitate to reach out to my office. We can help! Contact one of my district offices at 412-364-0469 (Ross), 724-224-2131 (Natrona Heights), or email me at [email protected]. Upcoming Events Last Week for our Community Food Drive My office is hosting a food drive through December 1st. We are collecting needed pantry items for North Hills Community Outreach and Feeding the Flock. Please help out our neighbors in need by donating if you are able. State Sen. Lindsey Williams hosts food drive in Harrison, Ross | TribLIVE.com Monthly
Office Hours at the Kingsley Association My office hosts monthly office hours on the first Friday of every month at the Kingsley Association. Stop by and say hello to our staff between 9:00 AM -1:00 PM and get access to all of the services that our District Offices provide:
Good News 96.9 BOB FM Turns 20! I was pleased to present the team at 96.9 BOB FM with citations commemorating their 20th Anniversary earlier this month! Besides running a great radio station, BOB FM has been my friendly Ross District Office nextdoor neighbor since 2019. Congratulations to this hard-working group and look forward to listening along for another 20 years! Pittsburgh Water ABC Project Kick Off I joined Pittsburgh Water as they broke ground on their “ABC Project” earlier this month! This is the next phase in their Water Reliability Plan and is named for its three major components: restoration of the Aspinwall Pump Station, complete replacement of the Bruecken Pump Station, and construction of the Clearwell Bypass. Every Pennsylvanian has a constitutional guarantee to clean, pure water, and that includes drinking water. The ABC Project will modernize our water distribution system, fulfilling that promise of clean drinking water, while adding backups that will ensure that water continues to flow in emergency situations. Read about the ABC Project at: https://www.pgh2o.com/your-water/water-reliability-plan. Veterans Honored at Highlands School District Thank you to Highlands School District for including me in your 3rd Annual Veterans Day Celebration! It was an honor to help recognize four Highlands Veterans for their dedication to the community and to our country. $cam Jam in Morningside We had an excellent turnout for our $cam Jam at the Morningside Senior Center! Attendees gained valuable insights into how to protect themselves from investment fraud and everyday scams. Attendees also had a chance to win prizes with a few rounds of "fraud bingo." A big thank you to the PA Banking and Securities, AARP Pennsylvania Office, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General, and Pittsburgh Bureau of Police for joining us!
Honoring our POW/MIA I was honored to join the Pittsburgh Steelers for their annual dedication of the POW/MIA chair at Acrisure Stadium. This empty chair serves as a reminder of all of the sacrifices made for our country by these still missing service members. You are not forgotton – we’re saving a seat for you.
Legislative Update Funding Higher Education I joined higher education classroom leaders from across Pennsylvania as they rallied in Harrisburg for increased investments in our colleges and universities. I’m glad we finally passed our 2025-26 budget and funded our state-related universities like Pitt and Penn State. That money is starting to get out the door to the organizations who have been waiting more than 4 months for members of the Legislature to do their job. And this budget did include some modest bumps to grants and loans for students. But higher education was mostly flat-funded. We all know that in this economy, flat funding is a funding cut. Pennsylvania is 49th in the country in higher education investment; so it’s no wonder that 64% of our college graduates have student loan debt—the third most in the country. I have about $130,000 in loan debt myself. The fight for investment in higher education strengthens professors’ working conditions and, in turn, improves students’ learning conditions. The more we invest, the better off Pennsylvania’s future will be. We can’t keep getting by with what we’ve been doing for the past few years and expect new results. It’s time to make a real investment in higher education for all Pennsylvanians.
News You Can Use Big Changes for Pennie Open Enrollment this Year Open Enrollment for Pennie, Pennsylvania’s official health insurance marketplace, runs from November 1, 2025 - January 15, 2026! If you enroll by December 15th, you will have coverage on January 1, 2026. And if you enroll by January 15th, you will have a coverage effective date of February 1, 2026. Pennie is still the best option if your employer does not offer health insurance, but we want to make you aware of significant changes that will result in increased monthly premiums and documentation requirements due to federal changes authorized by H.R. 1 of 2025 (also known as the One Big Beautiful Bill). Changes this Open Enrollment Period:
For details on these changes go to: https://pennie.com/whatsnew/. Enrollee Action Items
Go to https://pennie.com/ to get started with your enrollment. You will need the following to complete the enrollment process:
Need help? Go to https://pennie.com/connect or call 1-844-844-8040. Phone assistance is available during the Open Enrollment period from November 1st – January 15th:
Call PA MEDI for Your Medicare Open Enrollment Questions! It is also time for Medicare Open Enrollment which closes December 7th! Don't forget to take advantage of Pennsylvania's FREE Medicare counseling program, Pennsylvania Medicare Education and Decision Insight (PA MEDI). During open enrollment every year, new Medicare beneficiaries can sign up for Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and health plans that complement Medicare. Current Medicare beneficiaries can renew, join, switch, or drop Medicare Advantage or Prescription Drug Coverage to better meet their needs during the open enrollment. Any changes you make will take effect on January 1, 2026. There are an overwhelming number of Medicare health insurance options out there, but fortunately the PA MEDI counseling service is available to help you make informed decisions based on your individual needs. Counselors are trained to optimize your cost savings and access to healthcare and benefits. They do not sell or endorse Medicare insurance products, companies, or agents. Consultations are free, confidential, and unbiased. This work is done with the help of approximately 250 dedicated PA MEDI volunteers at local AAAs across the Commonwealth. PA MEDI Counselors can help you understand:
To set up an appointment online with a PA MEDI counselor go to: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/aging/aging-programs-and-services/pa-medi-medicare-counseling. You can also call the PA MEDI Helpline at 1-800-783-7067, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or the Allegheny County Area Agency on Aging at 412-350-4234 to set up a Medicare counseling appointment. Learn more about PA MEDI, events and programs, or become a volunteer at: https://www.pa.gov/agencies/aging/aging-programs-and-services/pa-medi-medicare-counseling. Grants Open to PA Communities for Rain Poetry! PA Humanities has a new grant opportunity to bring the joy of water-activated “Rain Poetry” to the streets and public spaces of Pennsylvania’s communities. Schools, libraries, arts groups, and community organizations can make their own installations using a Rain Poetry Toolkit developed by creators of past Rain Poetry host sites. With this kit, your project will be easy! Grants are awarded to projects that use the Rain Poetry framework. Applications opened October 14 and will be accepted through December 4, 2025.
For more information go to: https://pahumanities.org/conversations/2025/10/14/pa-humanities-launches-rain-poetry-toolkit-and-new-grant-opportunity/ Questions? Reach out to program staff at [email protected]. North Park
- Latodami Birding Hike Looking for a brisk outdoor experience before your Thanksgiving celebrations get underway? Join the North Park Rangers at Latodami Nature Center for a Birding Hike on Wednesday, November 26. Hike starts at 8am, so dress appropriately and bring your binoculars! For more information and to register go to: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/alleghenyparks/activity/search/detail/20321?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true.
We are Hiring Spring Interns!We are seeking motivated and civically engaged college students to join our team as Spring Interns in our district office located at 5000 McKnight Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15237. This part-time position runs from January through May, with the possibility of extension, and offers compensation of $15 per hour. Interns will work 15–25 hours per week and gain hands-on experience supporting the daily operations of a legislative district office. Responsibilities may include assisting with constituent casework, conducting policy and issue research, drafting letters, memos, and outreach materials, supporting community events, and contributing to communication efforts. Interns will work directly with staff and have the opportunity to develop professional skills in communication, writing, research, and public engagement while learning how a legislative office functions. Ideal candidates are college juniors or seniors interested in government, political science, journalism, human services, community organizing, or related fields. Successful applicants will be detail-oriented, strong communicators, comfortable working collaboratively, and committed to public service. The mission of the office of Senator Lindsey Williams is to build community by meeting constituents where they are, to advocate alongside them to improve their quality of life, and to show people that government can and should work for them. To apply, please submit a resume and cover letter by December 12. We encourage interested students to apply and become part of a team dedicated to making a difference in the community. As always, please feel free to reach out with any questions you may have by phone at 412-364-0469 (Ross Office), 724-224-2131 (Harrison Office) or by email at [email protected]. My staff will return your call/email within 24 hours (Monday-Friday). |
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