Pew Announces $1M to Support Vulnerable Philadelphia-Area Residents Amid Pandemic

PHILADELPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today that it has awarded $1 million in new grants to 13 Philadelphia-area nonprofits serving local residents who are vulnerable to the COVID-19 pandemic’s impacts, including those experiencing hunger, adults with substance use disorder, and low-income, frail older people. The support will help increase the agencies’ capacity to respond to changing community needs resulting from an already high poverty rate combined with widespread job losses and the increased social isolation caused by the virus.

“Philadelphia-area residents living in poverty, experiencing job losses, fighting addiction, and dealing with age- and income-related isolation are disproportionately susceptible to the health, emotional, and economic impacts of COVID-19,” said Kristin Romens, project director of the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia (Pew Fund). “Pew’s latest grants aim to help our region’s social services agencies respond to the increasing demand for effective programs for these particularly at-risk groups.”

The Pew Fund assists local nonprofits that serve vulnerable individuals and families in Philadelphia, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, and Montgomery counties. Two of the new grants, to Philabundance and Prevention Point Philadelphia, will help each organization respond to the pandemic’s immediate and shorter-term effects. Philabundance will use the support to address the significant increase in demand for food assistance; Prevention Point will address the complex medical and social services needs of vulnerable individuals in Kensington, many of whom are homeless and coping with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Each organization will receive $250,000 over two years.

The other 11 awards will provide an additional year of support to current Pew Fund grantees serving low-income, frail older adults. The support will help these organizations adjust their operations and programs to continue to assist the region’s older residents with obtaining healthy meals, aid for daily living, opportunities for socialization to reduce cognitive decline, and other services to enhance their overall well-being. All 13 grants build on Pew’s May 2020 announcement recognizing the challenges that many health and social services organizations face in adjusting services to address critical community needs during the pandemic.

Following is a list of the Pew Fund’s June 2020 grants. For more on the Pew Fund and on Pew’s support for the Philadelphia region and the organization’s grantees during the COVID-19 pandemic, click here.

Grants to respond to the pandemic’s immediate and shorter-term effects

Philabundance—$250,000

Prevention Point—$250,000

Additional operating support to current grantees serving low-income, frail older adults, to help meet critical needs resulting from the pandemic

Center for Advocacy for the Rights and Interests of the Elderly (CARIE)—$66,000

Consumer Credit Counseling Service of Delaware County (Clarifi)—$38,000

ElderNet of Lower Merion and Narberth—$16,000

Family Services of Montgomery County—$41,000

Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Greater Philadelphia—$66,000

Lutheran Settlement House—$41,000

Penn Asian Senior Services—$54,000

Senior Community Services—$51,000

SeniorLAW Center—$50,000

Supportive Older Women’s Network—$33,000

Surrey Services for Seniors—$44,000

The Pew Charitable Trusts is committed to helping Philadelphia by informing discussion on important policy issues facing the city, partnering with local institutions to encourage a thriving arts and cultural community, supporting the health and welfare of the region’s most vulnerable populations, and pursuing civic initiatives to strengthen the area’s appeal to residents and visitors alike. Learn more at pewtrusts.org/Philadelphia.