Philly Mobile Crisis Response: Mental Health Advocates Want Expansion

The Philadelphia Community Mobile Crisis Response Team network has become a vital force in addressing behavioral health emergencies in the urban area but is now calling for more expansion to meet growing demand.

The Mobile Crisis Response Team network includes clinicians, nurses, social workers, and other outreach personnel who offer a 24/7 response to calls coming in to suicide and crisis hotlines.

The expansion would be used for more advanced technology and additional staffing and training.

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New Report Shows Shortfalls, Success in Philadelphia Schools

The new Children First report is detailing new challenges and successes for Philadelphia area schools, including mental health, violence, funding, and poverty.

Although the report highlights barriers in the form of underfunding, poverty, and substance use, it also shows that notable improvements have been made in addressing violent crime in school settings.

Billy Penn explores the full findings of the Child First Report, backed by the education advocacy group since 1982.

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Who Gets Hospital Financial Aid in PA? It Depends on Where You Go

Many hospitals in the United States offer relief to patients who struggle to pay medical bills, often through charity care or financial aid programs.

However, healthcare providers and hospital systems can largely decide for themselves how their programs operate and who qualifies for assistance.

Spotlight PA explains how Pennsylvania hospitals chose charity care eligibility and different regions create criteria. 



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CDFIs Are Pillars of Local Economic Growth for Rural and Urban Communities

Although financial services are a major factor of daily life across the country, many American consumers and business owners don’t have convenient access to banks, credit unions, and other affordable and resourceful institutions.

Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs) help fill access gaps by providing credit and capital to businesses and families affected by high prices.

The Urban Institute explains how CDFIs work, and how both rural and urban communities can boost local businesses by utilizing CDFI services.



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Metro Monitor 2025: Growth, Affordability Trends in Metro Areas Over the Past Decade

Although there has been a steady decline in inflation since mid-2022, affordability remains a major concern for workers across America.

Population changes, job creation, income trends, and housing supply all vary greatly across America, and affect regional growth.

Brookings Metro Monitor looks at economic performance and affordability in various metro areas over the last decade using 15 indicators to measure economic growth and to explore how several regions are performing. 



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Open Philanthropy Launches Effective Altruism Fund to Speed Housing Construction

The San Francisco-based grantmaking foundation Open Philanthropy will launch a three-year fund for $120 million to support reforms and new policies to help accelerate housing development.

The Abundance and Growth Fund will help to increase advocacy and research on removing existing barriers to creating new housing and infrastructure.

This new funding program is the latest in a series of housing initiatives since 2016 to quickly and safely create more housing construction resources. 



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