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News & Publications

HopePHL Meeting with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development

9/20/2023

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L-R top row: Scott Canon, Gwen Bailey, Joe Willard, HopePHL L-R bottom row: Lyn Kirschenbaum, Matthew Heckles, HUD Kathy Desmond, Kelly Durand, Hope PHL
Matthew Heckles, the Regional Administrator for the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Region III, and his team met with the HopePHL staff. The goal was to provide the HUD representatives with information to gain a deeper understanding of the challenges related to housing instability, homelessness, and community development: particularly concerning families, youth, and other Philadelphia residents. 

The HopePHL team provided a tour of Gloria's Place in West Philadelphia, which is renowned as Pennsylvania's pioneer structure to encompass emergency, transitional, and permanent housing units within a single location. 

Before concluding the meeting, the HopePHL team and HUD representatives engaged in discussions concerning inventive approaches to addressing housing insecurity. These included strategies like proactive prevention and diversion initiatives, aid for rentals, and funding to uphold affordable housing options. ​
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Homeless Children and Youth Act Re-Introduced!

9/20/2023

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The Homeless Children and Youth Act (HCYA, H.R.5221) was reintroduced by U.S. Representatives Mikie Sherrill (D-NJ-11,) Bill Posey (R-FL-08), Delia Ramirez (D-IL-03), and Don Bacon (R-NE-02), and co-sponsored by Pennsylvanians Evans (Phila), Boyle (Phila), Scanlon (Delaware), Dean (Montgomery), and Fitzpatrick (Bucks).

A positive step forward for families experiencing homelessness would be a unification of the federal definition of who is homeless and who is not. The Homeless Children and Youth Act would unify the definition, qualifying thousands of families and children for housing supports.
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Congressman Dwight Evans
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Congressman Brendan Boyle

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PA Head Start and HopePHL Release “A State-Level Brief: Participation of Infants and Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania”

9/1/2023

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This brief builds on the earlier "A State-Level Brief: Participation of Young Children Experiencing Homelessness in Early Childhood Programs in Pennsylvania" (PA Head Start State Collaboration Office, January 2022) and provides a more focused examination of the experience of homelessness for infants and toddlers and their participation in early childhood programs. One is more likely to be in a shelter as an infant or toddler than at any other age.

Key findings include:
  •  The population of children ages 0-3 living in poverty declined by 26,000 from 2015 to 2021, but those living below 100% increased slightly in 2021. Because children in extreme poverty are more susceptible to becoming homeless, policy and program leaders should improve outreach strategies. 
  • 66% of children identified as homeless live doubled up due to economic reasons and are not being served by the homeless housing system.
  • More than 12,000 infants and toddlers are estimated to be homeless and served by an early learning program. However, looking at different systems, challenges to data collection indicate a decline in the number of infants/toddlers served by childcare, home visiting, Early Intervention, and Early Head Start.
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Child Homelessness Increases in Philadelphia to 8,383!

8/17/2023

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HopePHL has summarized homeless education reports from the Pennsylvania Department of Education and the School District of Philadelphia to draw attention to critical needs. Our summary is meant to inform practitioners and policymakers about children and youth experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.  

HopePHL is continuing its series called the “Children Cannot Wait Campaign” (see https://bit.ly/3qAQGIX). The report offered today is Part 2; it explores the data specifically on Philadelphia. Last month’s newsletter delivered Part 1, showing data for Pennsylvania. Part 3 will come next month and look at homelessness by county.  

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Children Cannot Wait:  Highest number of Children and Youth Identified as Homeless in Pennsylvania – 40,003!

7/20/2023

 
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​A new report from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) shows that in School Year (SY) 2021-2022 there were 40,003 children and youth were identified as homeless throughout the Commonwealth, an all-time high.
 
HopePHL has summarized this report to inform practitioners and policy makers about children and youth experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia.
 
With this Policy Brief we continue HopePHL’s series called the “Children Cannot Wait Campaign” (see https://bit.ly/3qAQGIX).  Part 1 of our exploration of the data offered by PDE will focus on Pennsylvania; Part 2 will focus on the data specific to Philadelphia; and Part 3 will look at homelessness by school district. 
rEAD THE pOLICY bRIEF

Analysis of Federal Reserve Bank's Report on Early Learning

6/14/2023

 
Preschool student and teacher
​A family’s homelessness can be prolonged for longer periods of time by a lack of childcare.
 
HopePHL’s Building Early Links for Learning (BELL) project works to help parents and homeless housing provider agencies find high-quality childcare, navigate through applications, and much more. However, the COVID-19 pandemic reduced the number of available early learning programs. Numerous efforts at the national, state, and local level are working to get the early learning system back to pre-COVID levels, but long-term systemic problems like low staff wages, inadequate number of subsidies, and a lack of infant/toddler childcare hinder the system’s recovery.
 
The Federal Reserve’s Early Care and Education Work Group has produced a series of reports on the status of childcare as it relates to its mission of sustainable employment. This paper is a summary of its most recent report, which can be found here.  
 
Who should read this paper: HopePHL is summarizing the report for the homeless housing system, other human service systems and policy makers because the availability of childcare affects all industries. In addition, there are numerous advisory councils and coalitions preparing early childhood education (ECE) policy work to offer to Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro, the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Philadelphia’s future Mayor, and current and future City Council members. Information in this paper serves to add to the body of knowledge about ECE to a non-ECE audience.
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HopePHL Awarded $250,000 Housing for Everyone Grant from TD Charitable Foundation in Support of Homelessness Prevention

5/26/2023

 
HopePHL™ was recently awarded a $250,000 Housing for Everyone grant from the TD Charitable Foundation, the charitable giving arm of TD Bank, America's Most Convenient Bank®. HopePHL™ is one of 37 non-profit organizations selected from more than 450 applicants to receive a Housing for Everyone grant as part of the TD Charitable Foundation's signature grant initiative that has helped support organizations that are focused on providing affordable housing and affordable housing services since 2005.

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As individuals and families across the country struggle with inflation and an exponential rise in rental costs, affordable housing providers face increased hardship given the growing demand for affordable rental units and emergency rental assistance.
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The grant will support HopePHL’s homelessness prevention work, which assists people at risk of homelessness in Philadelphia to remain in their homes and avoid emergency shelter. Through case management and direct financial assistance grants, the agency’s program provides West Philadelphia families with support to overcome a housing crisis. Since its launch in July 2020, HopePHL's program has successfully delivered these services to 355 families and has provided over $880,000 in emergency rental assistance grants.

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Everyday Learning Play Spaces: A Child Friendly Space!

4/6/2023

 
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The Early Learning Play Spaces (ELSP) team has recently been hard at work on our Child Friendly Space at the Darlene Morris Love and Care family housing program. Based on ideas and feedback we received from the staff and families there, we are happy to provide a space for infants, toddlers, preschoolers, older siblings, and caregivers to enjoy together. We transformed an unused room to accommodate an infant and reading corner, writing desk, kitchen and dress-up station and much more!  

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Emergency Housing Opens Its Doors

4/6/2023

 
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We are thrilled to announce the reopening of our Emergency Housing department, which is now able to accommodate larger families of four or more. We have already welcomed four families of seven to ten people, with another family of nine arriving soon.

Thanks to the city's partnership, we have been able to provide much-needed shelter to families who were previously struggling to find safe and stable housing. While we are still in the process of assessing their specific requirements, we know that baby formula and supplies are always in high demand. Our Emergency Housing department is now providing a lifeline to over 35 children, ranging from 4 months to 17 years old. 

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The BELL Project Celebrates the Week of the Young Child

4/6/2023

 
Man doing a demonstration for  children
On Wednesday, April 5th, The BELL Project joined the National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) in celebrating Work Together Wednesday as part of the Week of the Young Child. The day focused on cooperation and teamwork, which aligns perfectly with the BELL Project's mission. The Week of the Young Child is an annual event that highlights the needs of young children and their families, as well as the programs and services that meet those needs.

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  • Home
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  • Programs
    • I Need Services
    • Adult & Family Services >
      • Family Empowerment Service
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      • Parenting Collaborative
      • Parents as Teachers Home Visiting
    • Community Based Services & Community Development >
      • Community Outreach
      • Digital Inclusion
      • Lancaster Avenue
      • Neighborhood Services
      • Rental Assistance
      • Food Relief
      • Arts & Culture
    • Early Childhood Children's Services >
      • Baring House Crisis Nursery
      • Building Early Links for Learning >
        • BELL Summit
      • Children's Work Group
      • Everyday Learning Play Spaces
    • School Age Children's Services >
      • Community Schools
      • The Thrive Project
      • Truancy Intervention & Prevention
    • Youth & Young Adult Services >
      • Arise Housing
      • Community Connectors
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      • Teen Success
      • Youth Emergency Service
  • Policy & Advocacy
  • Events
    • Lancaster Avenue Jazz Festival >
      • Jazz Pop Ups
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