We thank our Pennsylvania Congresspersons Dwight Evans (Philadelphia, left), Chrissy Houlahan (Chester, middle), and Mary Gay Scanlon (Delaware, right) for signing onto a letter pressuring the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) to respond to data showing the decline of support for families and children experiencing homelessness.
Led by Representatives Suzanne Bonamici (D-OR) and Morgan McGarvey (D-KY), our three Congress persons joined 22 of their colleagues in drawing attention to the decline in federal housing assistance programs for families with children. The information they are sharing is shocking! The letter asserts that the Section 8 Housing Choice Vouchers, one of the largest federal housing programs that can help prevent homelessness, shows that families with children have received a smaller share of voucher recipients over the last decade. Read the press release here. Action Steps: Don’t agonize, Organize! We joined SchoolHouse Connection in supporting a set of actions to address the declining support. Read SCH’s analysis here.
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HopePHL organized a coalition to venture to Harrisburg to educate key staff and legislators on October 10 and November 15. For the later event, we joined in with two related efforts for a full day of advocacy for the November event.
We joined in the staff from various ‘Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness’ networks led by the indefatigable Sonia Pitzi, Regional Coordinator from the Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12. Sonia organized a rally and press conference held in the Main Capitol Building and attended by more than 75 advocates. The second effort was organized by a number of Allegheny-county based agencies, including the Homeless Education Fund, in partnership with the National Network 4 Youth. They joined the rally and also met with state legislators on four different proposals on various aspects issues relating to youth homelessness. HopePHL was given the opportunity to provide data at a public hearing of the House Education and Human Services Committees, organized by Philadelphia’s Representative Donna Bullock. More than twenty-five legislators heard a number of shocking challenges confronting the 40,000 children and youth experiencing homelessness in the Commonwealth. Joining the day were HopePHL Board members Mike Verrill and Brandon Weber (picture above) with Rep. Bullock. The Children Cannot Wait Campaign: School Districts Who Received ARP - Homeless Education Funding1/18/2024 The American Rescue Plan directed a one-time $32 million infusion of support to the Fiscal Year 2023-24 Pennsylvania budget for the Education for Children and Youth Experiencing Homelessness (ECYEH) program. ECYEH expanded its capacity, as did many school districts and charter schools, to provide staffing, train school personnel, and provide direct services like uniforms, transportation, motel stays, mentoring, summer programming, school supplies, and more.
Public Statement on Fire at Gloria’s Place
December 22, 2023 At 6:00 AM on Friday, December 22 a fire was reported on the second floor of Gloria’s Place. It set off the building’s fire protection and alarm system. Staff on duty directed an immediate evacuation of the building. No one was injured. The fire department reported to the building and extinguished the fire. The fire and water damage was contained to five rooms on the first and second floors. The cause of the fire has yet to be determined. Families were sheltered at one of HopePHL’s nearby buildings until the department of Licenses & Inspections determined that the area was safe to reenter and examine damage to any personal property. Leadership and staff are working with the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and Department of Human Services (DHS) to relocate youth, teens, and families who had occupied the fire and water damaged rooms to other spaces at HopePHL or other agencies. We extend our sincere appreciation to the staff on duty who evacuated every resident from the building promptly and safely. HopePHL is grateful to the members of the fire department, OHS, DHS and partner agencies for their readiness to assist HopePHL and our families at this difficult time. Any questions can be directed to Trish Downey, Sr. Director of External Communications, at tdowney@hopephl.org and 215-888-6364. If you would like to help us respond to ongoing needs as they arise, contributions can be made at https://www.hopephl.org/donate.html. December 21, 2023
On November 27, 2023, HopePHL received news that the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services (OHS) planned to eliminate funding to HopePHL’s emergency shelter effective January 1, 2024. Currently the emergency shelter, which started in a church basement and later became Gloria’s Place (now located at 3902 Spring Garden Street) houses 6 adults and 43 children and has served as the bedrock of our mission, caring for an estimated 2,500 families since our preceding organization, People’s Emergency Center, launched in 1972. In this edition: Parents as Teachers, Villanova Day of Service, Play Spaces Update at Families Forward, and more!
The Affordable Connectivity Program is a benefit program that provides a discount of up to $30 per month toward internet service for eligible households. Many people who are receiving SNAP, WIC, SSI, or Medicare are eligible. Comcast specialists will be at this event to sign you up for this important benefit. You do not have to be a Comcast customer - the benefit can be applied to any provider. Sign up with this link or scan the QR code Sessions are limited, sign up today! Questions?
Email hello@hopephl.org or call 267-777-5811 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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