Compiled by
HUD's mission is to increase
homeownership, support community development and increase access to
affordable housing free from discrimination. To fulfill this mission,
HUD embraces high standards of ethics, management and accountability
and forges new partnerships--particularly with faith-based and community
organizations--that leverage resources and improve HUD's ability to
be effective on the community level. The Office of Housing provides
vital public services through its nationally administered programs.
It oversees the Federal
Housing Administration (FHA),
the largest mortgage insurer in the world, as well as regulates housing
industry business. The mission of the Office of Housing is to contribute
to building and preserving healthy neighborhoods and communities, maintain
and expand homeownership, rental housing and healthcare opportunities,
and stabilize credit markets in times of economic disruption.
Group 2: Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness
PCEH
addresses homelessness in
Philadelphia by providing a Day Center, doing outreach, and engaging in
education and conferences. They provide immediate services for homeless
individuals intended to help them maintain self-respect and make progress in
overcoming their personal struggles with homelessness. In addition, they
operate a Safe Home program that utilizes a housing first approach aimed at
placing homeless individuals in permanent homes while providing case management
and community-based social services to prevent them from becoming homeless
again.
Group 3: The Hebrew Immigrant Aid
Society (HIAS)
HIAS
is the migration service of Philadelphia which houses most of the political refuges that are relocated to Philadelphia.
HIAS was originally founded to provide
services to Jewish immigrants and refugees fleeing persecution and seeking
opportunity by migrating to America, but now offers its services to those from
all nations. Based on the Jewish value of welcoming the stranger, HIAS and
Council continues to represent, resettle (house), and reunite Jewish and all
immigrants and refugees residing in Philadelphia and surrounding counties who
are of limited means. The agency seeks the fair treatment and full integration
into American society of migrants from all backgrounds.
The Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) is the public entity charged with the policy, planning and coordination of the City’s response to homelessness. Major areas of work include the coordination of the Homeless Continuum of Care and implementation of Philadelphia’s Recalibrated Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness. OSH offers a wide array of services including emergency, transitional and supportive housing to individuals, couples and families. OSH’s mission is to assist individuals and families in moving towards independent living and self-sufficiency in safe and stable housing through Philadelphia’s homeless continuum of care.
The Interfaith Hospitality Network is committed to helping homeless families to achieve lasting independence by providing safe, temporary housing, meals and support services to homeless families through congregations in the community. Their goal is to provide the programs and services necessary to address the underlying causes of homelessness and to return their client families to a self-sustaining life. IHN brings social service agencies together with congregations of all faiths to provide basic needs – regardless of a family’s race or religion – to help that family become self-sufficient again.
The
Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission addresses unfair and discriminatory rental practices. A tenant may file a
complaint with the Philadelphia Fair Housing Commission if rent is current and
the tenant is being threatened with illegal eviction, if a landlord is raising
rent while housing code violations exist, if another term of a lease is being
violated, or to stop a landlord from retaliating against a tenant for reporting
housing code violations to the Department of Licenses and Inspections
(L&I). In addition, the Commission seeks to prevent discriminatory practices
in the rental market.
The
mission of the Tenant Union Representative Network is to advance and defend the rights and interests of tenants and homeless
people. Their goal is to guarantee to all Philadelphians equal access to
safe, decent, accessible, and affordable housing. They advocate on behalf of
tenants and homeless people to guarantee their rights to decent and affordable
housing and organize their members, tenant groups, communities, community
leaders, and others to fight for justice in housing and assure fair treatment
and respect for tenants and homeless people. They also provide services such as
financial assistance, social services, and information and referral services,
in ways which organize and empower tenants and homeless people to advance their
housing rights for themselves and their families, and allow them to access and
maintain decent housing.
The
Women’s Community Revitalization Project is committed to social and economic
justice for low-income women and their families. They develop housing and
neighborhood facilities; provide supportive services; advocate for policy
change; and honor leadership, dignity, and equity in our communities. They are
particularly concerned with the lack of
affordable housing. The Women’s Community Revitalization Project builds and
operates affordable housing developments from start to finish: finding the
sites, designing the houses, raising the money, managing construction and
making sure that the women and families who live there become part
The
BIA is the leading association promoting residential development and
construction in the city. They seek to expand the city’s housing market, paying particular attention to policies that
promote middle-income housing. In addition, they promote housing affordability
by reducing construction costs. They have become a leader in the real estate
development industry by taking on the big issues of the city. The BIA educates
its members and policymakers through its forum including BIA’s Annual Housing
Conference. They also work with local housing agencies and CDCs to promote
skills of minority workers.
People’s Emergency Center (PEC) nurtures families, strengthens
neighborhoods, and drives change by increasing equity and opportunity
throughout their entire community. They provide comprehensive supportive
services to homeless women and their
children, revitalize their West Philadelphia neighborhood, and advocate for
social justice. More recently, they have developed People’s Emergency Center
Community Development Corporation and entered community real estate. PECCDC acquires,
sells, rents, rehabilitates and manages properties in the West Philadelphia
community in which PEC carries out its programs and services.
The
mission of The Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania is to ensure that all
Pennsylvanians, especially those with low incomes, have access to safe, decent and affordable homes. The Housing
Alliance is a growing and influential membership organization, with over 500
organizational and individual affiliates statewide. Most of their members are
housing consumers, advocates, producers, policy makers, or local government
officials. Members are directly involved in the Alliance by helping set the
agenda, elect leadership, and shape action all the while representing the needs
of their communities. Their efforts are aimed at improving state housing
policy. The individual views of their members are forged into a single,
effective, persistent voice for the affordable housing needs and interests of
rural, urban and suburban communities across the state.
APM, Inc. (located just blocks from Temple!) is dedicated to
improving the quality of life in the Greater
Philadelphia area through community
development and a comprehensive array of life-improving social services.
They assess and institute meaningful remedies for societal problems prevalent
in today’s cities. They create job opportunities, aid people with debilitating
illnesses, revitalize neighborhoods, and support families and individuals. They
have a long history of fighting for the betterment of the community, advancing
an agenda that benefits our community and society as a whole.
Project
H.O.M.E. (Housing, Opportunities for Employment, Medical Care, Education)
empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness,
address the structural causes of poverty, and attain their fullest potential as
members of society. Project H.O.M.E. achieves its mission through a continuum
of care comprised of street outreach, a range of supportive housing, and
comprehensive services. They address the root causes of homelessness through
neighborhood-based affordable housing, economic development, and environmental
enhancement programs, as well as through providing access to employment
opportunities; adult and youth education; and health care. Project H.O.M.E. is
committed to social and political advocacy. An integral part of their work is
education about the realities of homelessness and poverty and vigorous advocacy
on behalf of and with homeless and low-income persons for more just and humane
public policies.
As originators of the Housing First model, Pathways to Housing seeks to transform individual lives by ending homelessness and supporting recovery for those with psychiatric disabilities. They believe housing is a basic human right, and aspire to change the practice of homeless services. The Housing First model is simple: provide housing first, and then combine that housing with supportive treatment services in the areas of mental and physical health, substance abuse, education, and employment. Housing is provided in apartments scattered throughout a community in the Pathways model. This "scattered site" model is said to foster a sense of home and self-determination, and help speed the reintegration of Pathways’ clients into the community.