The centers will be the first time in more than 100 years that the charity that controls the chocolate giant, with assets of about $14 billion, will help poor children outside of its rural campus.
The state House unanimously passed long-awaited changes, but Senate leadership refused to advance it Wednesday, leaving many landlords and families on the financial brink.
Landlords will no longer be required to forgive all payments owed in return for accepting state aid, which is capped at $750, much lower than average rent in many areas.
Lawmakers have known about the problems with the rent relief program for months, but Republican leadership failed to bring a fix up for a vote before it expired Thursday.
In Pennsylvania, it’s up to individual courts in each county to decide how to interpret the federal order. With debts mounting, renters' lives are in limbo, and relief is only temporary.