PROJECT H.O.M.E is an acclaimed independent nonprofit that runs homeless outreach and residential programs and offers other supportive services for chronically homeless adults and families. It also has become involved in a major neighborhood revitalization program in North Philadelphia, partnering with the community to provide affordable home ownership, education and health services. Many of its programs have been recognized as national models
ASSOCIATED DAY CARE SERVICES, INC.provides daytime care in family day care homes or day care centers for children of parents who are working or who are students completing schooling. Special day care program for public assistance recipients in approved training programs or community college.
DIVERSIFIED COMMUNITY SERVICES, INC. has a range of social services including day care, education, emergency food, fuel assistance, housing counseling, homeless prevention, employment, camping, day treatment, family supports, and youth development.
EPISCOPAL COMMUNITY SERVICES, the human-service arm of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania, offers a range of community-based and in-home services to over 1,000 economically disadvantaged people of all faiths every day.
GREATER PHILADELPHIA FEDERATION OF SETTLEMENTS is the central planning and coordinating organization for 15 community-based, multi-service member agencies in over 40 neighborhoods providing social programs and assisting citizen organizations to work for improved conditions and needed services.
PEOPLE'S EMERGENCY CENTER provides "a continuum of care to homeless women, teens, and their children: emergency shelter and services, case management, transitional housing, parenting and life skills, child care, employment and job placement programs, and permanent housing opportunities."
THE SALVATION ARMY, a longstanding Christian multi-service organization, provides an array of social services including emergency food and housing, child-care, and afterschool programs.
THE GREATER PHILADELPHIA COALITION AGAINST HUNGER fights hunger in Southeastern Pennsylvania through education, outreach, and advocacy. It says it functions "as an information clearinghouse and a catalyst for collective action around issues of hunger in southeastern Pennsylvania by (1) increasing hunger awareness (2) influencing public policy and (3) supporting leadership development and grassroots development.
THE UNITED MUSLIM MOVEMENT has developed affordable housing for area Muslims and non-Muslims and assisted Islamic schools and businesses. UMM's vision is to build, from the ground up, a central mosque for the entire City of Philadelphia. It has acquired a site to build the Central Masjid along the prominent Avenue of the Arts. Meanwhile, it operates a radio program, runs special events like Islamic fashion shows and has a scholarship fund.
PEOPLE FOR PEOPLE, INC, in lower North Philadelphia, is a model of faith-based social services funded under the Bush administration's controversial "charitable choice" initiative. People for People is the community-development arm of Greater Exodus Baptist Church. People for People operates job training programs and has undertaken community development and revitalization programs that have gotten national media coverage.
CATHOLIC SOCIAL SERVICES, an arm of the Archdiocese of Philadelphia, is the largest social-service provider in Pennsylvania, operating in large part under contract to the city and state government. Its role and its ground rules (as faith-based but scrupulously secular in its delivery of public services) would be of interest to foreign visitors. CSS's ten agencies offer services including residential treatment programs for at-risk children, family preservation services, foster care, adoption, immigration services, counseling, senior citizen centers, programming for the elderly, transitional housing, homeless services, and care for medically fragile men and women. It provides residential and community-based education programs to court-adjudicated youth, and sponsors residential and community-based care for persons who are developmentally delayed.
21ST CENTURY LEAGUE is a group of concerned citizens who voluntarily undertake projects that benefit Greater Philadelphia. It currently is focusing on the impact of major policy and budgetary changes underway in Washington and Harrisburg, known collectively as devolution, that shift responsibility from the national to state and local governments and in most instances, reallocate and reduce public spending.
CENTRO NUEVA CREACION is a nonprofit in the Fairhill and West Kensington sections of Philadelphia, a crime-ridden area called "The Badlands" by the media but that it calls "The Goodlands." Centro offers programs in education, community service, career development, technology and the arts. It sponsors youth development programs (After School Arts & Learning Center, Summer Enrichment Camps, Teen Leadership, Pre-Work for teens), Parent education and support groups, Community arts (photography, murals, and cultural celebrations) and Environmental projects(community greening, park restoration).
CIRCLE VENTURE is an arm of the Circle of Hope network of small, informal churches created to generate "compassionate service" by postmodern, artsy young Christians. The group says its mission teams "provide alternative educational opportunities" for children and youth. Its Circle of Hope thrift store provides jobs and community gathering initiatives, while its Circle of Peacemakers presents workshops, retreats and a listserv on peace and reconciliation.
HOUSE OF UMOJA, founded in 1968, is an internationally known organization that is dedicated to the positive development of disadvantaged urban male youth. Operating with public and private funds, it has gotten over 100 awards for its work housing and counseling at-risk boys, guided by the African-American concept of Nguzo Saba to imbue the teens with positive values.
KoreAm FOUNDATION provides cultural and educational programs for young Korean Americans, Korean adoptive families, adoptive organizations and the general public. In addition, its staff conducts research, conferences and publications to promote the understanding of issues confronting Korean American/Asian American and the Korean adoptee community.
