The Foundation for Delaware County Announces Boeing Grant

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Keshla Cruz outside her home with her three children,
Image via The Foundation for Delaware County
Keshla Cruz, mom of three, HOPE client and former Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Start client.

The Foundation for Delaware County announces that the Housing Opportunities Program for Equity (HOPE) has received a $100,000 grant from Boeing Philadelphia.

The HOPE program addresses immediate and systemic barriers to healthy housing for clients in the Foundation’s public health programs.

“At Boeing, we are committed to innovating and investing in efforts that build, enhance and contribute to the communities where our employees live and work,” said Michele Hengey, Boeing Philadelphia Community Investor for Delaware County. “Our partnership with The Foundation for Delaware County’s HOPE program is a formidable effort to provide housing stability for underserved areas in our community.

“We are proud to continue our efforts with the HOPE program to help provide safe, stable, and affordable housing, which ultimately leads to better health and equity in Delaware County.”

According to HOPE Program Director Jordan Casey, “Low-income families in Delaware County deserve to live in safe, quality housing. Many of the families we assist have a history of unstable housing and frequently struggle to maintain that stability due to various co-occurring issues.

“Boeing Philadelphia recognizes the importance of safe, healthy, stable housing for people in Delaware County and we are grateful to them for this partnership which will positively impact so many in our community.”

Casey noted that housing is a key social determinant of health, and critically important to the health and well-being of Delaware County residents.

HOPE provides direct financial assistance, housing education, and support to participants enabling them to maintain stable housing, achieve financial stability, and build strong futures for themselves and their families.

Staff also engage in advocacy to address the underlying systemic barriers to healthy permanent housing. They serve as a convener for organizations in the county working on housing issues to build a more equitable housing system in Delaware County.

Why is The HOPE Program needed?

Safe housing devoid of physical and environmental hazards is essential for good health. When families are dealing with a leaky roof, mold in their home or rent insecurity, it can be impossible to focus on a healthy pregnancy and other family demands.

Families facing unstable housing are also less likely to have enough food, invest in their children’s education, and seek medical care.

Delaware County has the seventh highest Black/White residential segregation among all ranked counties in the Commonwealth. It is tied for the highest non-White/White residential segregation in the state.

This inequity significantly impacts communities of color by reducing housing opportunities, widening the healthful housing gap, and impacting the housing stability and educational opportunities of Delaware County’s children.

According to County Health Rankings, Delaware County has the fifth highest rate of severe housing problems among counties in Pennsylvania and the fourth highest rate of severe housing cost burdens:

• 16 percent of Delaware County households experience at least one of these housing problems: overcrowding, high housing costs, and a lack of kitchen or plumbing facilities.

• 15 percent of households spend 50 percent or more of their household income on housing.

While housing insecurity and conditions were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic, the inequities associated with healthful affordable housing are not new and will certainly persist if systemic improvements are not made now.

Learn more about HOPE.

About The Foundation for Delaware County

A public charity founded in 2016, The Foundation for Delaware County is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County.

One of 780 community foundations across the U.S., the Foundation encourages philanthropy by providing efficient giving vehicles like donor-advised funds, gift annuities, and estate planning advice to generous individuals who want to have an impact in Delaware County and beyond.

The Foundation is proud to serve as a convener across sectors to address challenging community issues such as the need for a county health department.

In April, the Foundation awarded more than $1.8M in Impact Grants to area nonprofits.

In addition, the Foundation operates the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community.

With headquarters in Media and service sites in Eddystone, Upper Darby, and Springfield, The Foundation for Delaware County also operates the prestigious evidence-based programs Healthy Start, the WIC nutrition program, and Nurse-Family Partnership.

In addition to the new Housing Opportunities Program for Equity (HOPE), other programs include El Centro (a Hispanic resource center) and a health resource center for students in the Chester Upland School District.

Learn more about The Foundation for Delaware County.

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