Pew Announces $7.34 Million to Support Philadelphia Region's Vulnerable Adults

The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today that it will provide $7.34 million over the next three years to 45 Philadelphia-area organizations that serve some of the region's most vulnerable adults, including those struggling with homelessness, mental health issues, and extended periods of unemployment. 

"Pew is pleased to support these agencies, which have demonstrated their capacity to improve lives by providing critical services, including counseling, substance abuse treatment, skills training, and job placement," said Michael Dahl, senior vice president of Pew's Philadelphia program.  

The nonprofits receiving Pew's assistance will help approximately 25,000 people over each of the next three years. The grantees include:

• Fifteen groups that assist low-income adults with the preparation needed to obtain available jobs, including: Tech Impact, which helps 18- to 21-year-olds secure employment in the information-technology sector through training, internships, and mentoring; University City District, which through the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative helps low-income adults obtain work in neighboring health and education institutions; and YouthBuild Public Charter School, which through its Specialty Track program helps young high school dropouts pursue certifications that lead to employment.

• Eight organizations that improve outcomes of people with significant mental health challenges, including: Central Montgomery Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center's Project Connect, which links services with clients who are often reluctant to seek help; Philadelphia FIGHT, which provides individual and group therapy and outpatient substance abuse treatment to clients suffering from HIV or AIDS and co-occurring mental health or addiction problems; and Women Against Abuse, which offers therapy to women experiencing trauma, depression, and anxiety as a result of domestic violence.

• Twenty-two agencies that offer outreach and a combination of services to people with multiple, complex needs, including: Broad Street Ministry's Hospitality Collaborative, which offers nutritious, family-style meals to homeless and other low-income individuals and helps them receive medical and behavioral health treatment, HIV testing and referrals, and legal assistance; and Project HOME, which provides outreach, housing, and medical care, as well as education, job training, and employment services, to the chronically homeless.

A complete list of 2014 grantees can be found below. Organizations are located in Philadelphia unless otherwise noted.
To increase the number of vulnerable adults who obtain and retain sustainable, competitive employment.

AHEDD – $169,000  (Camp Hill, PA)
For continued support to facilitate employment for young adults with disabilities in southeastern Pennsylvania.

American National Red Cross – $200,000
For support of the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania Chapter to provide the Nurse Assistant Training program for low-income individuals with limited skills in the region.

CareLink Community Support Services – $147,000  (Eddystone, PA)
For continued support of the Career Services Program for people with mental illness in Chester and Delaware Counties.

Community Learning Center – $115,000
For continued support to provide counseling and other supports to adult literacy students in Philadelphia.

Delaware County Community College Educational Foundation – $100,000  (Media, PA)
For continued support of New Choices, which provides job counseling, training and placement assistance to low-income individuals in Chester and Delaware counties.

Federation of Neighborhood Centers – $150,000
To provide job training and physical and mental health supports to low-income individuals in Philadelphia.

Metropolitan Career Center – $144,000
For support of workforce development services for adults with multiple barriers to employment in Philadelphia.

Montgomery County Community College Foundation – $191,000  (Blue Bell, PA)
For support of an education and employment readiness program for individuals in recovery from mental illness in Montgomery County.

Pennsylvania Horticultural Society – $150,000
For continued support of the Roots to Reentry Job Training and Placement Program.

Tech Impact – $154,000
For support of technology training and job development services to under- and unemployed young adults in Philadelphia.

Unemployment Information Center – $110,000
For continued operating support to provide assistance to unemployed individuals.

United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey – $180,000
For support of the Job Opportunity Investment Network's Career Pathways Project.

University City District – $180,000
For continued support of the West Philadelphia Skills Initiative to provide training and employment to low-income individuals.

Women's Opportunities Resource Center – $200,000
For continued operating support to offer small-business training and related services to low-income women.

Philadelphia Youth for Change Charter School (YouthBuild Philadelphia) – $225,000
For continued support of the Specialty Track program to provide high-school dropouts with vocational training and job placement assistance.

To improve behavioral health outcomes for vulnerable adults through the use of evidence-informed, recovery-oriented approaches.

Action AIDS – $210,000
For continued support to provide behavioral health services to individuals with HIV/AIDS.

Central Montgomery Mental Health/Mental Retardation Center – $120,000  (Norristown, PA)
For continued support of Project Connect, to link individuals with serious mental illness to needed supports.

Crime Victims' Center of Chester County – $150,000  (West Chester, PA)
For continued support to provide assistance to survivors of sexual assault and abuse and other victims of crime.

Delaware County Women Against Rape – $95,000  (Media, PA)
For continued operating support to provide comprehensive services to victims of violent crimes in Delaware County.

Esperanza Health Center – $170,000
For continued support of behavioral health consultation services for low-income residents of North Philadelphia.

Penn Foundation, Inc. – $180,000  (Sellersville, PA)
For support to provide comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation services to adults with mental illness.

Philadelphia FIGHT – $180,000
For continued support to provide behavioral health services to individuals with HIV/AIDS.

Women Against Abuse – $194,000
For continued support to provide behavioral health services to victims of domestic violence living in its Philadelphia shelter. 

To substantially improve the ability of vulnerable adults with multiple and complex needs to move to independence and stability in the community.

Bethesda Project – $237,000
For continued support to provide housing and supportive services to chronically homeless individuals.

Broad Street Ministry – $210,000
For continued support of the Hospitality Collaborative providing nutritious meals and assistance in obtaining needed services to low-income individuals in Philadelphia, including those who are homeless.

Career Wardrobe – $95,000
For continued operating support to provide workplace attire and life-skills classes to women entering the workforce.

Depaul USA – $110,000
For support to provide housing and other services to homeless individuals in Philadelphia.

Domestic Violence Center of Chester County – $121,000  (West Chester, PA)
For continued support of services to victims of domestic violence in Chester County.

Drueding Center – $150,000
To provide life skills training and case management support for young women transitioning to permanent housing in Philadelphia.

Family and Community Service of Delaware County – $135,000  (Media, PA)
For continued support of the Ralph Moses House, which provides services to formerly homeless men living with HIV/AIDS.

Family Services of Montgomery County PA – $180,000  (Norristown, PA)
To provide the Parenting Inside Out program to inmates and ex-offenders in Montgomery County.

HIAS and Council Migration Service of Philadelphia – $150,000
For continued support of legal services to low-income Latino immigrants.

Homeless Advocacy Project – $109,000
For continued support of legal assistance to homeless individuals in Philadelphia.

Horizon House – $180,000
For continued support to assist adults with serious mental illness to persist in postsecondary education.

Inglis Foundation – $197,000
For continued support of the Community Computing Project to enhance the independence and productivity of individuals with serious disabilities in the five county region.

Interim House, Inc. – $158,000
For continued support of its Life Skills and Work Readiness program for women who are recovering from serious substance abuse problems in Philadelphia.

La Comunidad Hispana – $180,000  (Kennett Square, PA)
For continued operating support to provide social, health, education and other supportive services to low-income Latinos in Chester County.

LIFT – $100,000
For continued support of LIFT Philadelphia to assist low-income individuals to secure the community resources to increase their independence.

Local Initiatives Support Corporation – $179,000
For support of LISC Philadelphia's Financial Opportunity Initiative to improve the independence and stability of low-income individuals.

Metropolitan Area Neighborhood Nutrition Alliance (MANNA) – $149,000
For continued support to provide nutrition counseling and meals for people with chronic or serious illness.

Project H.O.M.E. – $324,000
For continued support to provide comprehensive services to homeless individuals.

Public Health Management Corporation – $215,000
For continued support of comprehensive health care for chronically homeless adults in Philadelphia.

Southeast Asian Mutual Assistance Association Coalition – $159,000
To provide culturally and linguistically appropriate case management and financial literacy education for newly resettled Asian refugee families in Philadelphia.

Temple University – $116,000
For continued support of the Legal Advocacy for Patients Program for low-income individuals with chronic or terminal illnesses.

VNA Community Services – $175,000  (Abington, PA)
For continued support of the Montgomery County Personal Navigator Program to assist low-income adults to apply for and obtain public benefits.