HOPE In Life Center (Helping Other People Excel)
Westmoreland County Housing Authority (WCHA) offers resident activities and drug-prevention programming through the Hope In Life Program. Presently, resident activities and programming are conducted in the following family communities: Park Manor, Highland Manor, East Ken Manor, Kensington Manor, West Hempfield Townhouses, Derry Townhouses, and Pleasant Manor.
The Hope In Life program also conducts resident activities and programming at the following elderly high-rises: Eastgate Manor, Irwin Manor, Jeannette Manor, Scottdale Manor, and Westgate Manor, Valley Manor, Trafford Manor, Parnassus Manor, Lower Burrell Manor and South Greengate Commons.
Our Mission
As service coordinators we want to work with residents to help access the services and resources they want and need for independence and self-sufficiency, well-being and to successfully age in place for as long as possible.
Program activities include:
After-school programming (tutoring/homework assistance, computer access, & training)
Homemaking
Health and wellness
Parenting
Conflict resolution
Building a sense of community
Substance abuse education
Job placement activities
If you would like to find out more information, please feel free to contact us.
Related Resources
Senior Life PA: https://www.seniorlifepa.com/
Community LIFE Program: http://www.communitylife.org
Westmoreland County: http://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us
This website contains information on Veteran’s programs and Area Agency on Aging programs, which include Elder Abuse, Meals on Wheels, Centers for Active Adults, the state Ombudsman for Nursing Homes, Caregiver services, Managed Long Term Services and Supports assessments and vision and dental programs.
Westmoreland County Transit Authority: https://www.westmorelandtransit.com/
Westmoreland County Food Bank: https://westmorelandfoodbank.org
PA Department of Human Services (formerly Dept of Public Welfare), Medicaid, SNAP benefits, LiHeap and more: http://www.dhs.state.pa.us
PA Department of Health: http://www.health.pa.gov
PACE/PACENET (Prescription services): http://www.aging.pa.gov/aging-services/prescriptions/Pages/default.aspx
PA Department of Revenue for Rent Rebate information: http://www.revenue.pa.gov/GeneralTaxInformation/PropertyTaxRentRebate
APPRISE program, which is a program that provides free health insurance counseling: https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/526
Retired Senior Volunteer Program, which connects seniors with volunteer opportunities: http://www.westmoreland.edu/pages/community/apprise
Senior Community Service Employment, which provides paid, on-the-job training for seniors: https://www.co.westmoreland.pa.us/1795/Senior-Community-Service
Open Your Heart to a Senior Program, which can provide various free services to seniors: https://uwswpa.org/open-your-heart-to-a-senior
Penn State Extension, Tobacco Cessation programs: https://extension.psu.edu/westmoreland-county
Blackburn Center, for victims of domestic violence: http://www.blackburncenter.org
Key Contacts
Program Manager:
Lynn Wackenhuth: 724-832-7248 x3042
lynnw@wchaonline.com
Service Coordinators:
Nicole Schmidt: 724-552-2250
nicole@wchaonline.com
Jamie Schall: 724-552-2244
jamies@wchaonline.com
Suzannah Paul: 724-787-4353
suzannahp@wchaonline.com
Lauren Vinosky: 724-552-2247
laurenv@wchaonline.com
Ashley Johns: 724-691-6146
ashleyj@wchaonline.com
