Pew Awards $4M to Support Housing, Legal Services for Older Philadelphians

PHILADELPHIA—The Pew Charitable Trusts announced today $4 million in awards to three Philadelphia-area nonprofit organizations that are working to improve the lives of older residents. With Pew’s support, the grantees—Pathways to Housing PA, Health Federation of Philadelphia, and SeniorLAW Center—will greatly expand their capacity to provide critical services. These will include stable housing and improved health outcomes for people experiencing homelessness, including older adults; supporting a new approach to provide housing and care for older adults with serious mental illness; and increasing the number of older adults receiving free legal representation, while improving policies that impact seniors’ well-being.

Philadelphia’s aging population has created a growing need for expanded services for seniors and the complex issues older adults may face. But demand is far outpacing the capacity of the city’s providers.

“Older Philadelphians, particularly those with low incomes or suffering from mental illness or substance use disorder, are a population that is too often overlooked,” said Kristin Romens, project director of the Pew Fund for Health and Human Services in Philadelphia. “With these grants, Pew is supporting organizations that are dedicated to helping seniors thrive by providing stable housing, improving mental and behavioral health outcomes, and offering free legal representation that addresses the complex challenges they face.”

According to 2022 U.S. Census Bureau data, 1 in 5 Philadelphians are 60 and older—an almost 25% increase from 2011—and of those, 1 in 5 live below the federal poverty level. In addition, there has been an increase in the number of older adults experiencing housing instability in Philadelphia. In 2022, more than 3,000 older Philadelphians experienced homelessness, according to Pew data.

The following includes the three new grantees and what they aim to accomplish:

• Pathways to Housing PA supports chronically homeless Philadelphians living with serious mental illness or substance use disorder. It was awarded $2.5 million in flexible support over five years to increase the number of available affordable housing units and equip new and existing units with assistive technology, such as automatic medication dispensers, that supports independence in daily activities. The organization will also use the funding to expand its substance use disorder recovery support and diversify training and work opportunities offered through its Work First program.
• Health Federation of Philadelphia promotes health equity for marginalized communities by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, and comprehensive health and human services. It was awarded $250,000 over two years to support a promising new program to address the long-term care needs of older adults living with schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder. In partnership with the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS), the organization will implement an innovative model that integrates tailored 24/7 behavioral health services with physical health and personal care supports in nursing homes, which have historically been unable to meet the complex needs of older adults with serious mental illnesses. As a result, rates of homelessness, acute care hospital stays, and criminal justice system involvement among this population have been high. Pew’s funding will support the model’s implementation at two local long-term care nursing facilities, as well as the development of a toolkit that can be used to replicate the model locally and nationally.
• SeniorLAW Center, the only nonprofit law organization in Pennsylvania exclusively dedicated to protecting the rights of older people, will receive $1.25 million in flexible support over five years to increase the number of clients for whom it provides direct legal representation. SeniorLAW Center will also work to codify, streamline, and improve the efficiency and accessibility of its intake process. The grant will also fund the organization’s efforts to reach an additional 5,000 older adults annually through community education events.

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Founded in 1948, The Pew Charitable Trusts uses data to make a difference. Pew addresses the challenges of a changing world by illuminating issues, creating common ground, and advancing ambitious projects that lead to tangible progress. In our hometown of Philadelphia, Pew is committed to making an impact through research and policy work to help the city navigate challenges, supporting the health and well-being of people facing complex challenges rooted in poverty, encouraging a thriving arts and cultural community, and pursuing civic initiatives to strengthen the area’s appeal to residents and visitors alike. Learn more about supporting the greater Philadelphia area.