The Urban Affairs Coalition’s Homeless Service Providers Consortium was created in late 2017. With the Center for Hope, members of Consortium include: One Day at a Time (ODAAT), Recovery Inc., Raise of Hope (ROH), Ready, Willing & Able (RWA), and Strengthening & Empowering Lives & Futures (SELF), Inc. Philadelphia organizations receive a portion of their funding from the City of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services and are under the fiscal sponsorship of the Urban Affairs Coalition.
The Consortium’s mission is to positively impact the policies and services affecting homeless individuals, families, and communities in the Philadelphia region through service collaboration, public policy advocacy, community engagement, and leveraging of financial resources. A brief overview of the other Consortium members is below.
(ODAAT): Founded in 1983 by Reverend Henry T. Wells, ODAAT began as a residential peer counseling and substance abuse recovery support program. They utilizes a community-based recovery model and support system, allowing people to recover in the same environment in which they became addicted. Recognizing that the addicted population have other life challenges, over the past 25 years ODAAT increased their scope and impact to address issues of HIV/AIDS and homelessness. ODAAT offers drug and alcohol services to individuals seeking shelter and support in their recovery efforts. While residing in one of the many recovery houses, individuals are eligible to receive a menu of services through ODAAT’s Case Management, Classes and Workshops, HIV Rapid Testing, HIV Education and Prevention Services, and access to Food Bank. ODAAT operates Recovery & Transitional Housing and provides clients with a safe place to stay while they recover where they will be surrounded by others who are fighting the same battle. For more information, click here www.odaat-philly.org.
(ROH): The mission of Raise of Hope is to provide affordable accessible housing – decent affordable, accessible housing – to homeless and formerly homeless individuals, families. The organization, founded in 1993, aims to be a source of pride for the community. ROH has worked with thousands of clients to efficiently and carefully identify, evaluate, and initiate action plans that help people to surpass barriers to success. Its Belfield Ave. housing project received International Passive House Certification, making this project the FIRST Certified Passive House in the State of Pennsylvania, and a model of Net-Zero-Energy possible design for ALL affordable housing in the City and the State. ROH has successfully placed well over 100 families in independent, affordable, subsidized housing. Some of these families are now experiencing the joy of first time home ownership. ROH plans to build more green, passive housing units in the future to provide homes for even more families in need of housing. For more information, click here www.raiseofhopeinc.com
(RWA): RWA provides a working way home for homeless men with long histories of incarceration, addiction and unemployment. At the core of this 12-month residential program is paid work—complemented by holistic social services, career training, education, and sobriety support. It is the first and only program that combines paid work with comprehensive services to help men become permanently self-sufficient. The “Men in Blue,” as participants in the program are known, have faced extraordinary hardships, but are determined to change their lives and the lives of their families forever. Since 1990, more than 6,500 men have graduated from Ready, Willing & Able with their sobriety, a full-time job, and a permanent home. RWA believes that “work works,” and its comprehensive transitional work and housing program helps men stay employed, helps them realize their potential and directs them on a path to independence. For more information, click here: www.rwaphiladelphia.org.
(SELF): SELF is a Philadelphia-based 501 (c) (3), non-profit organization that has been providing behavioral, social and human services to Philadelphians for over 30 years. Nearly three decades ago, Dr. Sylvester Outley founded SELF to deliver drug and alcohol counseling services in the City of Philadelphia shelters. SELF’s initiatives helped establish Philadelphia’s emergency housing system and programming for the homeless behaviorally challenged and substance dependent populations. Today,they continue to be at the forefront of its innovation.
SELF operates several emergency housing facilities and oversees emergency housing outreach initiatives including Peer Outreach and Winter Initiative. With help from its partners, the organization offers evidence-based programming including street outreach, housing focused case management, trauma informed approaches, permanent supportive housing, substance use treatment, and mental and behavioral health services. Additional initiatives focus on education, skill building and personal development services to aid participants in gaining self. For more information, click here: www.selfincorp.org.