Pew Awards Nearly $4 Million to Help More Philadelphians Secure Public Benefits

The Pew Charitable Trusts is committed to helping Philadelphians achieve economic security, advancement, and overall well-being. Public benefits are important but often underutilized resources that help people meet basic needs—a necessary foundation for stability and advancement. In March 2025, Pew awarded grants to three local nonprofits to enable more area residents to obtain resources for which they qualify.

The grantees, and their awards, are:

Community Legal Services ($3.5 million)

The Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia (Pew Fund) awarded a $3,500,000 growth grant to Community Legal Services (CLS) to expand access to public benefits for low-income Philadelphians by providing free legal representation and community education for people who are eligible for a variety of benefits, including the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Supplemental Security Income (SSI), and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI), among others. Disability benefits are particularly difficult to obtain without an attorney’s help: Two-thirds of claims are initially denied, but rejected applicants can appeal—a process that typically takes more than a year—and over half of those who do eventually receive benefits. As the only legal services organization in Philadelphia with a practice group dedicated to public benefits law, CLS also advocates for streamlined and simplified benefits enrollment and renewal processes. The organization helps 13,000 people annually, including 2,100 public benefits clients.

Homeless Advocacy Project ($280,000)

The Pew Fund also awarded a $280,000 venture grant to the Homeless Advocacy Project (HAP) to support its efforts to secure SSI and SSDI benefits for Philadelphians experiencing, or at risk for, homelessness. HAP’s work is part of the national SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery (SOAR) program, which aims to streamline the approval process for these benefits. HAP’s SOAR program assists about 250 clients annually, leveraging strong relationships with the Social Security Administration and with health care providers to ensure high rates of approvals as well as timely diagnosis and treatment for qualifying conditions, such as severe mental health problems. Pew’s funding will enable HAP to develop a training program for mental and behavioral health providers to improve their medical documentation practices. HAP will also enhance its data collection and evaluation efforts to assess the program's impact and will share best practices with peer SOAR agencies throughout the country.

Widener University’s HELP: MLP ($200,000)

Additionally, Pew Fund awarded a $200,000 venture grant to Widener University's Health, Education, and Legal Assistance Project: A Medical-Legal Partnership (HELP: MLP). HELP: MLP provides comprehensive legal services, financial assistance, and social services to pregnant and parenting families in Philadelphia. The program leverages trusted relationships with nurses, home health care visitors, and case managers to identify and address any unmet needs from families already receiving maternal and child health home visits. The program collaborates with the National Nurse-Led Care Consortium to implement the Family Advocacy and Integrated Resources Project to serve approximately 500 families annually. With Pew’s funding, HELP: MLP will enhance its data collection and evaluation efforts as it builds and expands a sustainable medical-legal partnership model; additionally, HELP: MLP will share best practices and lessons learned with other service providers.

Learn more about Pew’s funding for Philadelphia-area health and human services organizations at pewtrusts.org/pewfund.