PIHN on the Hill – Thanks for a GREAT Holiday!

by Leave a Comment

Holiday Shopping with a Purpose

Wrapping up PIHN On the Hill Day

Chanukah “Carolers” on the Ave

Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network’s community and supporters kept Chestnut Hill’s charming village shops filled with shoppers in support of PIHN On the Hill Day held December 10th this year! Proceeds went to the PIHN Children’s Fund, supplying school supplies, uniforms, winter wear, scholarships, learning programs, extracurricular activities and camperships for the children we support. Special thanks to our participating Chestnut Hill businesses – Artisans on the Avenue, Bohemian Pink, Chestnut Hill Cheese Shop, Chill on the Hill, Evergreen Cheese Shop, J. Mclaughlin, Iron Hill Brewery, Mango, Quelque Chose, Tavern on the Hill, Ten Thousand Villages, Threadwell, and Windfall Gallery for playing a huge role in spreading the spirit of holiday generosity in support of PIHN children! 

USG Shoppers

USG Shoppers

Our Community & a SOUPer Evening!

by Leave a Comment

To a SOUPer Evening..

Our Empty Bowl Dinner’s Success!

Empty Bowl Dinner 2017

Empty Bowl Dinner 2017

- Thank You -

The 2017 Empty Bowl Dinner was the BEST! We say that about each Empty Bowl Dinner, but this time we are not exaggerating!  It was well attended; our bowls were beautiful; the soups were delicious  and the desserts were fabulous!  Mike McGrath was….Milke McGrath, and the Philly Phanatic made us all smile! Congrats to Katie Pearson who won the 2015 Recycled Rides Hyundai Sonata! 

Many thanks to our host, United Lutheran Seminary, to our dinner host, Mike McGrath, to our corporate sponsors, advertisers, bowl makers, restaurant donors,  bread and cake makers, home bakers, soup shleppers and more than 100 volunteers. Special thanks to our hard working Empty Bowl Dinner Committee ( Cheryl Barber, Cynthia LaLone, Emmanuel Philor, Helene Broitman, Jamilla Mitchell, Lauren Casper, LaVerne Jones, Mel Strieb, & Shirlyn Swann). And an additional thanks to Arcadia University for hosting it’s own Empty Bowl Dinner on our behalf two days earlier! We raised community awareness of family homelessness and over $35,000 in support for PIHN’s programs!  A very FUN and SUCCESSFUL  night!

Click Here to View the Rest of the 2017 Empty Bowl Dinner Photo Album!

Want to Help Out on Empty Bowl Day?

by Leave a Comment

Empty Bowl Dinner 2014

Volunteer for Our Empty Bowl Dinner!

Click the links provided below to sign-up for a role to play during the dinner. Your willingness to volunteer will ensure the success of this remarkable community event to combat homelessness! 

Greeters and Servers:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48A5AC2EA7F94-empty

Parking Assistants:
www.signupgenius.com/go/30e0e48a5ac2ea7f94-empty1

Set-up/Clean-up Crew:
www.SignUpGenius.com/go/30E0E48A5AC2EA7F94-empty2

Can You Be a Souper Schlepper?

We are also in need of volunteers to run around and gather soups from local food donators prepared for the big night! If you are interested, please contact Rachel Falkove at rachel@philashelter.org or 215-247-4663 ext. 136

It’s Been Another Busy Year! – Annual Meeting 2017

by Leave a Comment

AnnualMeetingPic

Our board, congregations and alumni gathered for PIHN’s Annual Meeting on Wednesday June 28th  at Chestnut Hill Friends.  Featured speaker, Daniel Farrell, Senior Vice President of HELP USA for Homelessness Prevention and Rehousing, encouraged PIHN to move forward with efforts to focus on preventing homelessness before it begins.  The preliminary annual report was distributed and the members elected four new board members:

Cheryl H. Barber, BS, MS

With extensive experience in the nonprofit sector, Cheryl holds a Fundraising Program Certificate from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.  Her areas of expertise include, but are not limited to, fundraising, development, strategic planning, communications, community outreach, and program development.  Cheryl currently serves on the board of the American Baptist Homes & Caring Ministries.  Throughout her career, she has held positions with several nonprofit organizations, including Germantown Friends School, Philadelphia Art Alliance, and Dunleavy & Associates. Cheryl was most recently Director of Development with Baptist Children’s Services.

Michael H. Novak, BS, 30 graduate credits in Industrial Psychology at Temple University

Having an extensive and varying career, Michael worked with General Electric and Franklin Mint as a human resources professional.  Mike was VP of Administration at Wells Fargo Alarm Services, has worked as an entrepreneur, and was Executive VP at Alternative Ways, Inc.  He is retired from Fluidics, Inc., where he held the position of Director of Sales and Marketing.  Mike has been affiliated with Saint Vincent de Paul Conference of IHM parish (Vice President) and is a Member of Friends of St. John the Baptist Parish in Manayunk.  He has been married to his wife, Rose, for 51 years, and has four children and six grandchildren in the Philadelphia area.

J. Jamillah (Jamie) Mitchell

Philadelphia native, Masjidullah member, A graduate of Cardinal Dougherty High School and Howard University Alum., Jamillah has over 20 years of experience in nonprofit management, small business development, corporate training/development and quality assurance experience.  In 2003, while living in Atlanta, GA, Jamillah begin consulting with local businesses in need of part time Administrative and Executive Level Assistance, Human Resource Services, Grant Writing and Marketing/Public Relations. This part time, home-based, consulting business serves as the foundation for her role as Interim Administrator at Masjidullah.  Jamillah is also the proud mother of two children ages 12 and 18. Her son Zion, is a 6th grader at Mathematics, Civics and Sciences Charter School (and an active Masjidullah Jawala Scout) and Zoee Monet, a Freshman at Community College of Philadelphia (and Masjidullah Madressa assistant).

Frank Robinson​, BS, MBA, M.Div

Managing Partner of Kairos Development Group, has been a leader in the sustainable development industry for over eighteen years, working with government, private and nonprofit clients.  Frank has extensive experience articulating primary objectives for strategic plans, pursuing federal grant opportunities, revitalizing brands through online channels, and spearheading new programs. Frank has also written and managed over $40 million in federal grants/programs. He is a graduate of North Carolina A&T State University with a degree in Political Science. He also has an MBA with a focus on Economic Development from Eastern University and a Masters of Divinity at Westminster Theological Seminary. He also holds several certifications including one in low-income Housing Tax Credit Management & Development. Frank is a licensed minister and currently serves as an Elder at Cresheim Valley Church.  He is married to Carolyn Crouch Robinson and has one daughter named Samantha whom is currently in high school.

Thank You Cathy Smith, Beloved Social Worker!

CathyPic

Cathy Smith, long time PIHN Social Worker was celebrated for her years of dedicated service to PIHN upon her retirement. Three alumni families spoke movingly about their experience with PIHN’s programs and about working with Cathy.  These included Tonia Harris, Andrea Jourdan and Fatima Wells.  We presented Cathy with a beautiful plaque, with her name in calligraphy; decorated by Jeanne Marie Todd.

 

“An Ounce of Prevention is Worth a Pound of Cure”

by Leave a Comment

A Homelessness Prevention Strategy that Philly 

Desperately Needs.

screen2

Hundreds of Philadelphia families, even from the priciest neighborhoods of our City, find themselves during the course of any month. Far too often they cannot get the emergency help they need. Philadelphia’s safety net, the shelter system, is stretched well beyond capacity and lacks the resources necessary to respond to current economic and housing realities of City residents, in particular for the Northeast zip codes that Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (PIHN) and our 20 Northeast area congregations serve. Northeast Philadelphia has the second highest eviction rate in the city. More than 5,700 School District students were homeless last year. Some were in shelter, but others were couch surfing. Each year approximately 14,000 Philadelphians utilize a homeless shelter.

Homelessness occurs for a myriad of reasons and comes with many costs. Shelter beds are very expensive – approximately $15,000 per individual and $45,000 for a three person household per year! The choice not to build additional shelter beds to meet the true need comes with hidden social costs that show up in unnecessary placements in the child welfare system, increased health crises, lost employment, delays in educational progress for children, prolonged domestic violence, increased trauma and resulting behavioral health problems. Vacant housing brings down our neighborhoods.

Rather than let families and children fall behind, how can Philadelphia provide necessary resources and services sooner to prevent the downward spiral of homelessness? A promising solution lies in a cost-effective “homelessness prevention” strategy, managed by public-private partnerships that includes community, faith-based, local government, and corporate collaboration and support.

On March 13th and March 20th Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network, Family Service Provider Network, the Philadelphia Association of Community Development Corporations, Health Providers, Legal Aid groups and others testified in public hearings on the Homelessness Prevention and Philadelphia’s Eviction Crisis to ask our City Council to support investment in community-based prevention strategies that would help 1,000 households to avoid the emergency shelter system. Utilizing the Housing Trust Fund for homelessness prevention monies would be money well-spent. 3 million dollars would provide landlord mediation, legal assistance, financial coaching, benefits advocacy, employment and training, “master leasing”, and short-term financial assistance. These interventions have been tried in other cities and have proven 98% successful in preventing homelessness and displacement. While there will still be some families who need higher levels of service, most low income working families can avoid homelessness with targeted interventions.

Prevention intervention costs range from $500 per household to $6,000 per household in one year of service, compared to the high costs of providing shelter or the societal costs of doing nothing, PIHN believes that our City leadership should work to develop a community based homelessness prevention plan utilizing funds from the City Housing Trust Fund. By investing in a proven intervention, homeless Philadelphians won’t have to rely solely on the shelter system. A great city like Philadelphia can, and should, do better for its vulnerable citizens.

2017 Empty Plate Dinner Slideshow!

by Leave a Comment

Check out some of these awesome shots taken at the 4th Annual EPD.

We had a WONDERFUL time with our neighbors this year!

Photo Creds to our German Volunteer: “Felizitas Bitzenhofer”

  • Smiles at the 2017 Empty Plate Dinner

PIHN joins FSPN at City Council Homelessness Prevention Hearing

by Leave a Comment

Council Prevention hearing-Nancy House testifying-2017-03-13edit

Philadelphia Interfaith Hospitality Network (PIHN) families, staff and volunteers as well as many representatives from the Family Service Provider’s Network (FSPN) testified on March 13th about the need for a Homelessness Prevention Plan this past Monday at a City Council public hearing. The hearing, sponsored by the Council’s Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and Homelessness advocated for funding for a robust homelessness prevention program to relieve Philly’s log-jammed shelter system with long waiting lists.

Andrea Jourden and Nancy House, PIHN alumni,  spoke about their struggles to find housing they could afford and how they are doing so much better since PIHN’s shallow rent subsidy and master lease program.  As working, low income families, their stay in shelter could have been shortened or avoided all-together had resources been available earlier. Aubrey, Nancy’s 11 year old daughter spoke eloquently about the impact of housing insecurity on her family and her difficulty concentrating in school when the family was struggling prior to entering PIHN’s Master Lease Housing program that offers shallow rent subsidies. PIHN’s Director Rachel Falkove, and other FSPN providers, suggested that City Council:

1) Direct $3,000,000 from the Housing Trust Fund for Homelessness Prevention efforts.

2) Allocate $3,000,000 from the General Fund to strengthen the contract agencies that have been flat-funded for the past 8 years.

3) Allocate $25,000 for trauma informed care training programs.

We are hopeful that these requested changes combined with strengthening the role of public/private/faith-based partnerships will result in helping 750 families avoid the experience of homelessness.

PIHN families of Andrea Jourden , Nancy and Aubrey House (shown in photo above) & Rachel Falkove (below) at Press Conference before the Hearing.

City Council Homelessness Prevention Hearing-PIHN Rachel-2017-03-13 (2)edit

Click Here for our Article on PlanPhilly.com!

Take a peak into the Hearing by following these YouTube links:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8MwnKoh7L-Q

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nO88646l1QY

A Shoutout to PIHN’s Project Partners!

by Leave a Comment

Here’s a shout out to PIHN’s project partners, Sisters of Salaam Shalom for an article this past Thursday in the Philadelphia Inquirer and to Tom Costello of The Joy of Sox in last week’s People Magazine human interest feature!   Both articles mention PIHN and the ways PIHN families are strengthened by their work.   It totally takes a village, and our project partners really do go the extra mile.  We’re honored to be working with them!

GetImage.ashx

Check Out Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom’s PEACE MEALS Article Here

i-Gsgf6Gz-XL

Check Out Tom Costello’s Article in People Magazine Here

Houses For Change

by Leave a Comment

Many thanks to Unitarian Society of Germantown for hosting the annual neighborhood Martin Luther King Day of Service, bringing together hundreds of local volunteers!  The day reaped many benefits for PIHN- a cleaner and more organized family center, a start on bowls for next year’s Empty Bowl Dinner, lots of Houses for Change and some much needed shelving in our office!

unnamed3unnamed2

Seen here- Debby Stern, PIHN Coordinator at Germantown Jewish Centre and granddaughters, Hanna and Gabriella, making their Houses for Change to collect spare coins to help bring about positive change for PIHN families

unnamed