Welcome to HopePHL's Monthly Newsletter |
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I am pleased to share our first HopePHL™ Newsletter! HopePHL was founded through an integration of two leading human service organizations in Philadelphia, PA: People’s Emergency Center (PEC) and Youth Service, Inc (YSI) in January 2023.
HopePHL’s mission is to inspire Philadelphia's children, youth, families and communities to thrive by providing housing, advocacy, and trauma-responsive social services designed to promote equity, resilience, autonomy, and well-being.
We have 120 years of combined service experience which has provided:
- 2 M + safe nights of housing for 20,000 parents, youth and children, while they built skills essential to thrive.
- $1.5 M in financial assistance that helped families secure or keep a home.
- 3 M+ healthy meals for families, youth, and children.
- 235,000 hours of teaching computer skills for new learners.
- 40,000 books for children to build their own libraries at home.
- $65 M invested in affordable housing, home improvements, commercial properties, and public spaces in West Philadelphia.
You will find that many of our programs and services have not changed and will not be disrupted. They have become more client/audience-focused, to better address individual needs of participants whether families, youth, children, or our neighbors.
You are an important member of our community, and I hope that you will continue to engage with us to make greater impact and help people achieve their goals—whether it’s a home of their own, a first living-wage job, a successful start-up on Lancaster Avenue or graduating on-time ready for the future. Your support gives us hope. And People with Hope, thrive.
Thank you for choosing HopePHL!
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Kathy Desmond
President
P.S.- Mark your calendars for our Rise and Dream Philly Teen Conference on Saturday May 20, and Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival Saturday July 15!
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Baring House Connects Families with Young Children to Additional Resources |
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At Baring House, Angie loves making connections for her families. Recently, she was able to connect a family to the Drexel Dornsife Center. One of the Baring House Moms had to attend an extended orientation process for a promising new job. She had two children in elementary school and one at Baring House nursery. Her father was trying to help with pickups and drop offs, but he struggled to manage three children at one time. Angie walked with him over to the nearby Drexel Dornsife Center and helped him to connect with the staff and instructors to enroll in their program. This afforded Mom ample time to return from the orientation to pick up all three children, and start a path to success at her new job! |
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Family Service Provider Network Releases Mayoral Policy Brief |
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The Family Service Provider Network, a network of providers serving families experiencing homelessness, developed a list of recommendations for consideration by the candidates for Mayor of Philadelphia. These recommendations were identified to improve services for families, children, and youth, with emphasis on housing and health. For more information about the Family Service Provider Network, email policy@hopephl.org
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Sarah Vrabic, Manager of Everyday Learning Play Spaces at HopePHL, delivered an interactive workshop for the Tennessee Association of Infant Mental Health. The workshop was titled “Seeing the Unseen: How can we best support young children and their families experiencing homelessness?”
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Omari Baye, Manager of HopePHL's BELL Project presented during a Schoolhouse Connection webinar. "Using Data to Advocate for Infants & Toddlers Experiencing Homelessness in Pennsylvania," connected advocates and service providers across the Commonwealth.
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Working Together: HopePHL, Landlords & Tenants |
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Sandra (her name is changed for privacy), is a local landlord. She was on the brink of ruin, when she met Robin from our homelessness prevention and diversion team. Fifteen of Sandra's long-time tenants were facing eviction from being unable to pay their rent due to covid-related job loss. Most of her tenants worked in some capacity in hospitality and had faced immediate termination or reduced hours since the pandemic. |
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Kyron Johnson of the Eagles Inspires YES Youth with Encouragement and Gifts |
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The teens at the YES Shelter were given a special E-A-G-L-E-S kickoff during playoff season with generous donations by Kyron Johnson of the Philadelphia Eagles. After hearing from Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Homeless Healthcare Initiative (HHI) volunteers, Melissa, Chris and Colin, Kyron shared how he wanted to be there for our youth for the long-term. The teens were all smiles and received some pretty fantastic gifts!
Special thanks to the Eagles and Kyron for your kindness and to the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia HHI staff and volunteers who helped to make this event happen!
We are Philly Strong - E-A-G-L-E-S!
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New Program! Introducing the Thrive Project! |
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In partnership with the School District of Philadelphia, HopePHL has developed the Thrive Project to strengthen the identification and support system in schools for housing-insecure students.
We are beginning work in 20 schools across the district to:
- Provide three months of individualized support for housing insecure students and their families.
- Provide emergency housing supports and related resources.
- Connect families to ongoing housing stability.
- Educate school personnel and community partners on how to best support these students.
- Build a youth support network that reduces stigma around housing insecurity.
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The NAC Parks-Catto Community Hero Awards |
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In honor of Black History Month 2023, the HopePHL Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) recognized local stakeholders with the “Parks - Catto Community Hero Awards.” This award asked the community to nominate and vote for individuals, organizations and businesses that are Living the Legacy of heroes such as Rosa Parks and Octavius Catto! Watch the video to meet Diane Mills, Beyond the Bars, Acupuncture in Motion, and Lamont Twyne Staffing Services.
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2022 Annual Report Released |
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HopePHL released the Annual Report for the program and fiscal year from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2022. Impact includes safe housing and shelter for 583 children, youth and parents, 561,000 pounds of food distributed, several changes in policy due to advocacy, and more. |
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HopePHL Women's Health Fair |
Ladies, bring your comfortable shoes and get ready for an afternoon of fun and wellness! Join us at the Lucien Blackwell Center on March 9th and 23rd for health screenings, healthy bingo and soul line dancing from 1pm - 5pm.
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2nd Fridays on Lancaster Avenue |
Check out all that Lancaster Avenue has to offer with special events on the second Friday of each month. For more info contact Dante at dleonard@hopephl.org. |
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Children Work Group Early Childhood Conference |
Dr. Janette Herbers of Villanova University, and a HopePHL Visiting Scholar, will present findings from a survey of shelter providers across the US who identified their training needs for working with young children in families experiencing homelessness. She will introduce plans for running a series of workshops we have developed for shelter staff at family shelters in Philadelphia to address some of those needs. For more info-contact Joe at jwillard@hopephl.org.
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HopePHL Program Fair / Meet & Greet |
Come meet our teams, check out our new programs and have a little fun too! HopePHL’s first Program Fair showcases all of the programs and teams from People’s Emergency Center and Youth Service, Inc. now available from one organization. For more info-contact Trish at tdowney@hopephl.org. |
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HopePHL Rise & Dream Philly Teen Conference |
Save the Date
May 20, 2023 | 9am - 3pm
Temple University, Howard Gittis Student Center
Register your teens to join us for this amazing event, now back in person! for more info, contact Carla at cjohnson@hopephl.org. |
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Lancaster Avenue Jazz & Arts Festival |
Save the Date
July 15, 2023 |12pm-7pm
Saunders Park Greene, 39th & Powelton Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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Main Office: (267) 777-5880
325 N. 39th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19104
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