The Foundation for Delaware County’s HOPE program, which provides financial assistance, direct services, and advocacy to help individuals and families overcome barriers to healthy housing, has been nominated as a finalist for a Greater Philadelphia Social Innovations Award.

The public is invited to show its support by voting for the HOPE program here.

Voting will close on Dec. 18, 2022.

The award was created by the Social Innovations Journal which promotes innovative ideas supported by data and research to improve social sector products and services, systems, and policies.

The Greater Philadelphia Social Innovation Award honors those who embrace traditional practices while also thinking outside the box to grow new ideas.

Awards are being offered in numerous categories.  The HOPE program nomination is in the Housing and Community Development category.

The Foundation’s HOPE program is an example of a success story that provides support to Delaware County’s most vulnerable populations so they can access healthy housing.

HOPE (Housing Opportunities Program for Equity) was created in 2021 to address the barriers to decent housing to those who suffer disproportionally from housing insecurity.

These are low-income populations. Many are girls and women of color, families with children, and domestic violence victims.

Using donations and grants from the business community and state and local government, HOPE addresses housing insecurity, helping to keep at-risk families in their homes or providing financial help so they can find safer housing alternatives while it advocates for widespread housing reform.

Breaking the cycle

 Evidence shows that housing issues like eviction are not just a condition of poverty but also a cause.

Housing insecurity creates instability not only for individuals but also for schools and communities.

It impacts people’s job prospects and mental and physical health. Families facing housing insecurity are less likely to have enough food, invest in their children’s education, and seek medical care.

 “My prior home was in the middle of drug activity, and my bedroom window was shattered during an accidental shooting,” said Keshla Cruz, the mother of three. She is a HOPE client and a former Nurse-Family Partnership and Healthy Start client.

“It wasn’t safe for me and my three children; my kids could never hang out in the backyard.”

Cruz received a housing voucher from HOPE, which she described as a “lifesaver,” because it allowed her to move away from her prior unsafe home.

Vouchers offer an affordable rate of rent each month so clients can put money toward other expenses.

“The voucher gave me the opportunity to move to a neighborhood that is safer and healthier for my family. My kids don’t get sick as much. They were suffering from respiratory infections due to mold in the house,” Cruz said.

“In our new home, we feel safe and healthy, and my neighbors know me and support me.”

About the Foundation for Delaware County

The Foundation for Delaware County channels much-needed funds from private and public sources to nonprofits and community groups that are helping meet the needs of Delaware County residents facing challenges and difficult times.

Its recent annual report is loaded with facts and figures demonstrating how money is being used to build a better community here in Delaware County.

The Foundation is a public charity founded in 2016 and is the largest philanthropy serving Delaware County.

It offers support and resources for nonprofits of every size, helps generous people give with more impact, brings together funders, nonprofits, and elected officials to address critical community problems, and responds to major challenges and crises as they arise.

Last year, the Foundation awarded more than $2.3M in Impact Grants and charitable care.

The Foundation operates the Center for Nonprofit Excellence to strengthen Delaware County’s nonprofit community through training workshops and peer learning opportunities.

The Foundation 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.

Find out more about The Foundation for Delaware County.

You can also visit them on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter at @DelcoFdn.