Intensive Family Supports / Housing

Family Empowerment Services (FES)

FREE HELP with your home and family, a social worker will come to your home, or walk-in! This service is VOLUNTARY. Help within 1 week. Families or professionals can make a referral.

• housing or landlord needs such as exterminators or repairs
• resources for help paying bills for utilities
• help with clothing, food and furniture
• support to help organize medical or school appointments
• help with private family needs such as money or counseling or advocacy

Families are eligible for FES regardless of their race, gender, ethnicity, age, financial situation, immigration status, preferred language, etc as long as they meet the following requirements:

1. Willing to work with a case manager in their home
2. Cares for at least one child under the age of 18 in the home
3. Are not currently working with a similar case management program (Truancy, Intensive Prevention Services, IHIPS or RSRI).*
4. Are not active/open with the Dept of Human Services*

*If families are unsure, please proceed with referral. When the referral is processed, it will be screened for eligibility.

• ZIP CODES: ’20,’23,’24,’25,’33,’34,’37,’40
  • Congreso – 216 W Somerset St, Philadelphia, PA 19133
    • Doris Acevedo –  acevedod@congreso.net     215-763-8870 ext. 1410
• ZIP CODES: ’35, ’39
  • Elwyn – 1325 S. 33rd Street Philadelphia PA 19146
    • Diana Goodwin –  Diana_Goodwin@elwyn.org   267-546-3000 Ext 1117
• ZIP CODES: ’04, ’31, ’39, ’42, ’43,’51, ’53
  • The Village- 6517 Chester Ave Philadelphia PA 19142
    • Danaya Lewis –  dlewis@village1877.org   215-730-2327
• ZIP CODES: ’45, ’46, ’47, ’48, ’12, ’02, ’03, ’06, ’07, ’23, ’30.
  • All other families will be referred to another agency providing the same services. *Services are now being provided both in-person and virtually*
  •  United Communities (South)- 2029 S 8th St, Philadelphia, PA 19148
    • Carmen Feliciano – CarmenFeliciano@ucsep.org
    • Referrals to FES can be made by calling DHS at 215-683-6100 and pressing #5 to request FES.
• ZIP CODES: ’33, ’34, ’37, ’24, ’49, ’11, ’52, ’36, ’14, ’15, ’16, ’54.
  • All other families will be referred to another agency providing the same services. *Services are now being provided both in-person and virtually*
  • United Communities – 101 Ellsworth St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
    • Monica Cook – MonicaCook@ucsep.org
    • Liz Pinckney – ElizabethPinckney@ucsep.org
• ZIP CODES: ’04, ’31, ’39, ’51 
  • Intercultural – 4225 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    • Nicole Jones Walker 215-386-1298
• ZIP CODES: ’18, ’19, ’27, ’28, ’38, ’44, ’50
  • YSI- 410 N 34th St, Philadelphia, PA 19104
    • KathleenCook – kcook@ysiphila.org
    • Erica Makowski –  emakowski@ysiphila.org  215-848-6200 ext 1012

***If you have a need that is not being met by the FES agency, feel free to reach to: Terri McCargo, Diversionary Case Management Administrator at Terri.McCargo@phila.gov or PH: 215-683-4105 or CELL: 267-226-0646

Jewish Adoption and Family Care Options (JAFCO)

FREE Case Management and support for families with children who are in crisis, also for relatives raising others’ children.

3 Bala Plaza, Suite 104 East Bala Cynwyd, PA 19004

Mabel Morris Family Home Visit Program

Home based support, guidance, advocacy, systems navigation with a focus on school readiness, parenting and family cohesion. For families with a child under age 5 in Philadelphia.

1080 N Delaware Ave #300d, Philadelphia, PA 19125

National Nurse Led Care Consortium (NNCC) Safe and Healthy Homes Program

The main activity of this program is to provide free primary prevention home visiting services to reduce risks associated with unhealthy homes.

Centre Square East, 1500 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Penn State Bed Bug Task Force/Pennsylvania Integrated Pest Management (IPM)

The mission of this program is to promote effective pest management that results in the efficient protection of our food, fiber, health, home and industrial resources in a manner that is profitable, safe and environmentally compatible.

Special Needs Coordinators

Special Needs Coordinators from Health Insurance Companies are available from every child’s health insurance company to assist a family in navigating resources and supports on behalf of a child. Professionals or families can call them, or call the number on the back of your medical card to get connected to your Special Needs Coordinator.

TACHP: Technology Assisted Children’s Home Program

Case management (care coordination, advocacy, supports) across the state for children ages 0-22 who have a range of diagnostic needs. Free, voluntary, funded by the PA Dept of Health. Referrals can be made by anyone directly by emailing Missy Modesti at mmodesti@phmc.org or visiting the referral link: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/3364849/Provider-Referral.

The Medical Home Community Team

Provides home-visiting services for families to help address social determinants of health and development. MHCT offers case management assistance to parents and their children, with and without special healthcare needs, ages 0-21 years old and residents within Philadelphia County. All referrals must come from a AAP certified Medical Home within Philadelphia County.

Anti-Violence Partnership of Philadelphia

Free!   Counseling to adult and child co-victims of homicide and victims who have been traumatized by other forms of violence.

2000 Hamilton Street, Suite 204 Philadelphia PA 19130

National Child Traumatic Stress Network 

This website offers resources (in many different languages) for parents, adoptive parents, resource/foster parents, grandparents, caregivers, and all others who care for children and teens. The more caregivers learn about how traumatic events affect their children (whether toddler, school-age, teen, youth, or adult), the more they understand the reasons for their children’s behaviors and emotions, and the better prepared they are to help them cope. When children know that caring adults are working to keep them safe and support them in understanding their reactions to trauma, most can recover and go on to live healthy and productive lives.

Philadelphia ACE Task Force (Averse Childhood Experience)

A collaboration and partnership offering resources and trainings for those who work with families and children experiencing stressors that affect their well-being. Sign up for their workshops and mailing list.

Philadelphia Children’s Alliance

Philadelphia’s FREE resource for concerns about sexually abused children or seeking information on the subject.

The School District of Philadelphia Office of Prevention & Intervention (Student Mental Health and Trauma Resources)

Provides resources and services in the areas of prevention, intervention, and behavioral health in order to support the social-emotional growth of students.

Provides crisis response and recovery to address individual and school-wide needs via direct support, coaching, and professional development.

Student Mental Health and Trauma Resources

440 N. Broad St. Philadelphia PA 19130

Uplift Center for Grieving Children and Philly HopeLine

Free!   A safe and caring place where children and families who are grieving can find help. Service is available in both English and Spanish.

3300 Henry Avenue, Suite 102 Philadelphia PA 19129

Philly HopeLine – Free helpline sponsored by Uplift Center for Grieving Children and the School District of Philadelphia. Resource for students and caregivers who feel isolated due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is staffed by Masters’ level clinicians from Uplift, and is open to all School District of Philadelphia students & families.

Service is available in both English and Spanish, translation services available in over 200 languages.

Call or Text 1-833-PHL-HOPE (1-833-745-4673).

https://upliftphilly.org/programs/uplift-resources/philly-hopeline/

Women Against Abuse

Safe havens, legal support, crisis support.

100 South Broad Street, Suite 1341 Philadelphia, PA 19110

Women in Transition (WIT) Supportive Counseling

Women in Transition (WIT) Supportive Counseling, advocacy, and referrals for women who are endangered by domestic violence and/or substance abuse.  Office is closed. All in-person services have been suspended but most services are offered virtually.

718 Arch Street, Suite 401N, Philadelphia PA 19106

The Art of Friendship Social-Coping Program

Offer free monthly trainings and other supports for parents and professionals. They teach supportive strategies, communication skills and offer workshops on other highly requested topics.

Autism Research Institute

Offers on- line support and information for parents on how to speak with siblings about autism.

Autism Speaks Toolkit, A Sibling’s Guide to Autism

This is a guide for siblings with a brother or sister on the spectrum.

The DHS Parenting Collaborative and Parent Education Classes

FREE!  Referral to local community based parent support and education groups and classes in any area of the city, see website for all programs.  During the pandemic please call Brenda Terrell at 267-315-3169 for referrals. Conference calls and virtual classes are currently being offered.

Elwyn Parent Partners

Parents who have children in the Childlink or Elwyn system (0-5 years old) who provide supports and resources.

The National Maternal Mental Health Hotline

The Hotline offers free, confidential, 24/7 support from trained counselors, with services available in English, Spanish, and more than 60 additional languages.

Parenting Plus

Parenting support for parents who have a mental health need.  12 Session Parenting Series for parents with mental health issues or diagnoses.  Sessions are conducted in English and at this time are virtual sessions only.  Free!

Parenting Plus September Flyer

Philadelphia Family Voices

Philadelphia’s first and only family-legacy organization. As a family legacy organization, the mission of Philadelphia Family Voices is families helping families navigate and improve child-serving systems by creating opportunities for education, empowerment, and support. The primary avenue that Philadelphia Family Voices fulfills this mission is through the Family Peer Support (FPS) model. In this model local family members with lived experience and knowledge of Philadelphia’s behavioral health services as well as child-serving systems are employed by Philadelphia Family Voices to support local families raising a child who is experiencing emotional and/or behavioral challenges including autism. Offers a structured strength-based relationship between a Family Peer Support Partner (FPSP) and the primary family member/caregiver to the benefit of the child/youth with an array of formal and informal [on-site, in-home, and in the community] services that Include:

• • Outreach, Information, and Referral
  • Navigation of Service Delivery Systems
  • Bridging and Transition Support
  • Self-Efficacy and Empowerment
  • Support and Presence within Child-Serving Systems
  • Support Groups
  • and Specialized Autism Navigators for Families of Children with ASD

801 Market St. Ste. 7000 Philadelphia PA 19107

Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council (PICC)

The Philadelphia Interagency Coordinating Council (PICC) is a collaboration of families, early intervention providers and early childhood agencies.

They offer trainings, meetings and fun events for families of children receiving Early Intervention services birth to Kindergarten. (0-5)

The School District of Philadelphia Office of Family and Community Engagement

Student placement, after school programs, supports for multilingual families, ESL classes, interpreters, translations and information and referrals for mental health supports, and emergency family needs, all services are free.  Family Engagement Liaisons Contact List

440 N. Broad St. 1st Floor, Suite: 114, Philadelphia PA 19130

Sesame Street and Autism Toolkits and Workshops

Developed with input from parents, people who serve the autism community, and people with autism, See Amazing in All Children offers families ways to manage common challenges, to simplify everyday activities, and to grow connections and support from family, friends, and community.

Sesame Street http://www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits offers many amazing resources:

• For families with an incarcerated parent: http://www.sesamestreet.org/toolkits/incarceration
• For children who are experiencing grief and loss: https://sesamestreetincommunities.org/topics/grief/

Spectra Solutions

This agency offers counseling groups and trainings for families and young adults regardless of where they live.

Spectra accepts several insurances including Medical Assistance. Interested participants can contact us to learn more about our group offerings and intake process.

390 Reed Road, FL 1 Broomall, PA 19008-4008

Vision for Equality Family Support Projects

Vision for Equality is pleased to announce two new pilot projects to support families in Philadelphia.  The System Navigation for Philadelphia Families and the Trauma Informed Care for Philadelphia Families are both peer to peer projects aimed at supporting families!  With the support of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual DisAbility Services (DBHIDS), Vision for Equality will provide assistance in ways we haven’t yet seen in our system.

System Navigation for Philadelphia Families

The System Navigation Project’s focus will be to help families navigate the Intellectual disability and autism systems of care such as DBHIDS and ODP (Office of Developmental Programs). Through this program, a family with a loved one impacted by Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) will receive support from a Family Navigator who is a peer mentor, an individual who is also a family member of someone impacted by an intellectual and/or developmental disability. The Family Navigator assists families in connecting with much needed resources in their communities, problem solving through challenges the family might be facing, and overcoming barriers to support. Through the Family Navigation Project, families will have the tools and assistance they need to help their loved ones have meaningful and fulfilling lives. Download the Philly Navigator Project Flyer.

Trauma Informed Care for Philadelphia Families

The Trauma Informed Care Project will focus on helping families learn more about trauma and how to care for themselves while receiving support to recover from trauma. Families impacted by Intellectual and/or Developmental Disabilities (I/DD) often experience trauma due in part to the toll of caregiving, adjusting to loved ones’ challenges, frequent staff changes, lack of or barriers to accessing the support and services needed to thrive, and more. Through this project, families will get connected with mental health providers trained in supporting people affected by trauma. Families will also have opportunities to attend a regular support group to learn from one another and be supported by peers and project staffs. Furthermore, wellness workshops will be provided for families to learn simple yet effective techniques to alleviate stress on the mind and body. The Trauma Informed Care Project’s objective is to help families recover from trauma and build the resilience to bounce back stronger and quicker in the future. Download the Trauma Project Flyer.

Birth-Five Project

The Birth-Five Project, part of Vision for Equality’s Philadelphia Family Support Projects. The project provides one to one peer support to assist families navigate supports and services for their children with intellectual and developmental disabilities, including autism. For example, we provide assistance with getting secondary medical insurance, finding a preschool or daycare, applying for waivers, or acquiring home supports.  In addition to peer support, the program provides support groups and trainings for caregivers.

718 Arch St, Philadelphia, PA 19106

Autism Housing Network

Online forum and resource hub where autistic individuals can share housing options and information.

CAR Autism Roadmap

A resource directory of housing and group home options. This resource directory is designed to help connect families and individuals living with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) to local service providers and support systems.

City of Philadelphia Division of Housing and Community Development – Home Repairs

Helps homeowners with basic repairs including emergency home repairs, making homes accessible, applying for a low-interest home improvement loans, getting emergency home heater repairs, and getting home repairs and modifications for seniors.

If you cannot apply online you may speak to a PHDC operator by telephone at 215-448-2160, Monday-Thursday from 9am until 4pm, and Friday 9am-Noon. Hearing impaired persons call TDD at 215-448-2184.

City of Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services

This system provides homelessness prevention and diversion aid, as well as emergency and temporary housing, to people who are experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.

If you still need help applying, email the OHS Prevention, Diversion, and Intake Unit at OHSPrevention@phila.gov.

Get help with paying rent | Services | City of Philadelphia

If you are at risk of being evicted from your rented apartment or house, the agencies listed on this page may be able to help. This list is maintained by the Office of Homeless Services (OHS).

If you have questions, call the Office of Homeless Services at (215) 686-7175.

1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd., 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102

Horizon House Housing Services

Horizon House offers an array of Housing and Homeless Services throughout Philadelphia and Delaware counties in Pennsylvania. Services range from outreach to case management, to permanent housing support.

5901 Market Street Philadelphia, Pa 10139

Liberty Resources, Inc. and Liberty Housing Development Corporation

Liberty Resources, Inc. is the Center for Independent Living for the Philadelphia area, which advocates for and works with Persons with Disabilities to ensure their civil rights and equal access to all aspects of life in our community.

Housing Counselors are available to help low and moderate-income residents with a range of services, including finding affordable housing, tenant rights education, and navigating housing programs.

112 N. 8th St., Suite 600, Philadelphia, PA 19107

Low-income Housing Online

This is a tool to find listings of apartments and low-income housing in Philadelphia. Helps users find low-income housing in their areas, nationwide across the entire U.S.

This website includes listings, contact information and details on local and county-level housing authorities. Housing listings include area-wide low-income tax credit properties, Section 8 listings, non-profit low-income housing properties, and public housing.

Apartment rates for low-income housing can vary and may be confusing. This website explains which listings are income-based and also provides crowdsourced information on what current residents are paying for their apartments.

One Philly Front Door

One-stop shop for finding housing-related programs and services in the City of Philadelphia. Based on responses to a few questions, this tool will inform you whether you may be qualified for certain City of Philadelphia and PHDC housing programs and initiatives.

Pennsylvania Health Law Project

Helps with getting or keeping Medicaid, including waiver funding for in-home support and services.  Spanish speaking staff, as well as many other languages.

123 Chestnut St. Suite 400 Philadelphia PA 19106

Philadelphia Housing Authority (PHA) – Accessible Housing

PHA’s housing inventory includes accessible units and units with various features to meet the needs of persons with mobility, hearing, and vision impairments.

PHA’s Reasonable Accommodation Request Form and contact information for the Accessibility Coordinator.

2013 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia, 19121

Philly Tenant

Resources for tenant rights in Philadelphia including if you are at risk of being evicted, if you need repairs, if you need help paying rent, or help with the rules of and regulations of subsidized housing.

Also includes eviction resources: Philadelphia Eviction Prevention Project (PEPP)

Additional information is available here: Get free legal help to avoid eviction | Services | City of Philadelphia.

Project HOME

Project HOME offers a variety of services including housing, employment, medical care, and education programs.

RentAssistance

RentAssistance provides a directory of rental assistance agencies and organizations that will help you pay your rent. Some listings are government organizations other are non-profits and charities that offer rental assistance programs. Each organization has its own eligibility rules and conditions and you are encouraged to call directly to find out what you need to do. RentAssistance.us does not have funds for providing rental assistance. The website includes listings where you can call these offices directly.

Utility Emergency Services Fund

UESF provides financial assistance to low-income individuals and families who are facing utility terminations or who have had their utilities shut off.

743 N. 24th Street, Second Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19130