PHILADELPHIA – PHL Cares fund of Philadelphia Foundation, a business-led initiative investing in solutions to homelessness, presented its first round of funding to four homeless service organizations at a press conference this week. Bethesda Project, Pathways to Housing PA, Resources for Human Development, and SELF, Inc. each received $125,000 for a year of funding for high-impact, housing-focused strategies to address chronic homelessness in Philadelphia.

Since its founding in 2019, PHLCares has raised more than $1 million from corporate and individual donors in support of providing individuals experiencing homelessness with the housing and services they need. The fund was created by some of Philadelphia’s highest profile business and hospitality sector leaders, the Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, PREIT, and Wawa. Its goal is to bring the city’s business community together to provide innovative, compassionate financial and strategic resources needed for permanent supportive housing and services to individuals experiencing chronic street homelessness. These proactive and humane approaches extend beyond Center City to Philadelphia’s various neighborhoods including high-need areas like Kensington.

“Since the inception of PHLCares, the COVID-19 pandemic has put enormous pressure on Philadelphia’s homeless service providers and created even higher barriers for the vulnerable populations they serve,” said John J. McNichol, President and CEO, Pennsylvania Convention Center Authority, who also serves as a PHLCares Fund Advisor. “We continue to be inspired by the dedication, innovation, and compassion these organizations have shown in the face of these obstacles as they continue to help individuals experiencing homelessness. It is our hope that these grants provide opportunities to the non-profits to augment their efforts and have even greater impact from the housing and services provided.”

“The first round of PHLCares grants come at a critical time in our city’s recovery,” said Mayor Jim Kenney. “Our homeless services community has worked non-stop to protect residents deeply and disproportionately affected by the pandemic. These resources will go directly towards housing and other solutions to street homelessness led by expert service providers. As we continue our work to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Philadelphia, I am grateful for the dedication, compassion, and partnership shown by PHLCares’ leaders, supporters, and grantees.”

Collectively, these four non-profits serve thousands of people experiencing homelessness annually through outreach and engagement of those on the streets, providing emergency and permanent housing, with wraparound services. The funding will expand outreach, engagement and connection to housing, the availability of harm reduction supplies, basic needs such as meals, housing, and case management services. The result will be reduced reliance on emergency room usage, and people living in public spaces by connecting them with housing and services.

“We want to thank all of the companies and individuals that have come together thus far to help PHLCares raise over $1 million to support concrete solutions to chronic homelessness. Your generosity made these grants possible,” said Dave Simonetti, Senior Director of Store Operations, Wawa and PHLCares Fund Advisor. “Bethesda Project, Pathways to Housing, Resources for Human Development, and SELF submitted thoughtful and actionable plans for use of funds and we look forward to seeing the difference they continue to make in supporting Philadelphia’s homeless population.”

“We are grateful for the support of donors, my fellow co-chairs and other business leaders in this initiative as we seek solutions to one of the critical issues facing Philadelphia today, chronic homelessness,” said Joseph Coradino, the Chief Executive Officer of Pennsylvania Real Estate Investment Trust (PREIT) and PHLCares Fund Advisor. “The work done by PHLCares reflects a commitment to improving the future for our city’s population which will lead to a brighter future for the city we all call home.”

For more information on PHLCares, please visit https://phlcares.com/.

Donations to PHLCares can be made by:

• Mailing checks to: The Philadelphia Foundation, P.O. Box 826728, Philadelphia, PA 19182. Please note “PHLCares” in the check’s memo.
• Visiting philafound.org and clicking the “Give Now” tab. Enter “PHLCares” into the donation form.
• Wire transfers or donating appreciated stock—for details, please email Lois Gabin-Legato at lglegato@philafound.org.