Responding to Family Homelessness: A Complex Issue Needs A Holistic Approach

At HopePHL, we're committed to providing innovative, responsive services to families experiencing homelessness. We are excited to share that HopePHL has secured two grants through the William Penn Foundation totaling $1.3 million dollars to support our Homelessness Prevention and Diversion and Family Connections programs. With so many deserving causes in our city, we are both honored and grateful to receive this funding, which will help us continue our work toward improving the lives of the people we serve.
The Homelessness Prevention and Diversion Program supports at-risk households, particularly in communities of color and those with chronic illnesses, by helping them maintain housing or find safe alternatives. We provide short-term case management, landlord-tenant mediation, and financial assistance, currently serving about 75 families annually. With backing from the William Penn Foundation, we aim to assist an additional 75 families, targeting those with children aged 0-8.

​HopePHL collaborates with partners like Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, the School District of Philadelphia, and the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services to identify families facing housing crises, with targeted sub-groups including families involved with Department of Human Services, families of children with disabilities, and families in danger of homelessness due to job and wage loss.

Our easy, trauma-informed referral process includes education on rights under housing laws, legal aid referrals, housing search assistance, eviction prevention grants, and connecting families to benefits like SNAP and TANF. We also offer help with credit repair and rental assistance. Our program's focus on vulnerable families aims to address the trauma and stress of housing insecurity.

Family Connections provides information on parenting, child development, and early learning through home visits, as well as access to supports like clothing, furniture, and financial assistance. We uniquely serve families experiencing homelessness, conducting visits in shelters and supportive housing programs. Annually, we assist about 50 families with children aged 0-5, with plans to expand to over 75 families with the support of this grant. HopePHL will enhance outreach to families receiving services and the broader community, exploring ways to increase caregiver support by participating in partner meetings and launching a marketing campaign to promote our program. Our goals are to increase healthy pregnancies, improve parent knowledge of child development, facilitate early identification of developmental delays, and enhance parenting practices and family health. By focusing on families facing homelessness, our program aims to advance these outcomes specifically for caregivers and children affected by housing insecurity.

Each program's unique approach to serving families experiencing homelessness helps achieve positive outcomes for families who have faced the trauma and stress of housing insecurity like Kerry, Charles, and Cassandra. We look forward to strengthening these programs with the generous support of the William Penn Foundation!