Greater philadelphia community alliance
Greater philadelphia community alliance
For current homeowners, renters who are behind on their payments or in danger of losing their residence, and prospective home buyers, our team will provide housing stabilization services that include the following:
1. Credit and Budget to Stabilize Housing – Evaluating and assessing the client’s financial situation through credit and budget counseling
2. Foreclosure Prevention – Educating and assisting homeowners in determining the most feasible options to save their homes from foreclosure
3. Eviction Prevention – Assist with preventing eviction through funding sources (when available) and landlord-tenant mediation
4. First-Time Home Buyers – Provide workshops to discuss the home buying process and counseling to assist clients with navigating their purchase.
Click on links below to download the Checklist and Intake forms:
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Rental assistance resources and advocacy
https://PhillyTenant.Org
Philly First Home Program – Settlement/Down Payment grant for First Time Buyers (PHDC/DHCD – City of Philadelphia Grant Program)
https://phdcphila.org/
First Front Door – First Front Door can help qualified first-time homebuyers with closing costs and down payment assistance. For every $1 contributed by the homebuyer, FFD will provide $3 in assistance, up to $5,000
https://www.firstfrontdoor.
Benefits Access and Neighborhood Energy Center counselors assist Philadelphia residents in achieving financial stability through enrollment in public benefits, including addressing utility affordability. The process begins with a screening for local, state, and federal benefits based on household size and income. If eligible, our counselors assist with application completion, and the subsequent follow up to ensure enrollment for:
• Medicaid
• Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF)
• Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP)
• Supplemental Nutritional Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Utility Emergency Service Funds (UESF)
Neighborhood Advisory Committee (NAC) organizations help residents learn about social programs that could benefit them. NACs provide information about initiatives to:
Form requesting Information or an Appointment for all services in this area
Improving educational outcomes, improving work levels, and strengthening the family are keys to reducing poverty. In the years and months leading up to the pandemic, the unemployment rate declined much faster than the poverty rate, and more and more Americans struggled to find work that allows them to support themselves and their families. A two generation strategy utilizes a “raise the floor and build ladders” process to support improving the quality of low-wage jobs and promote mobility for low-wage workers. GPCA has invested in several programs to improve employment opportunities and outcomes, such as our Keyspot computer lab, and partnerships with Harcum University and 1199C laborers union’s training program.
English as a Second Language (ESL)
English as a Second Language (ESL) programming is available free of charge for community members with classes facilitated by volunteers.
Intensive Prevention Services (IPS) is a community-based and family-centered prevention and intervention program serving youth aged 10 to 19. IPS provides support to youth who are experiencing disciplinary challenges at home, in school, or in the community. The goal of the IPS program is to improve behavior in an effort to prevent youth from entering the juvenile justice system by identifying the social, emotional, and psychological factors that contribute to their challenging behavior(s). IPS is a short-term (3-6 months) intensive program. Our programming is broken down into three components: Case Management, Onsite After-School programming and Counseling. Through life skills workshops, mentorship, educational support, and linkages to community resources, we help youth strengthen their sense of self-worth, self-confidence, character and competency skills. We promote resiliency and positive youth development.
Eligibility Criteria:
Parenting Educational Program serves parents at-risk of involvement in the child protection system in addition to parents seeking to reunite with their children. We strive to work with parents in the South Philadelphia Area around issues such as re-unification, child neglect and abuse so they can provide a nurturing environment for their children. The Parenting and Anger Management Program provide 12 weeks of a Parenting Support Course that meets 2 hours per week. We use an evidence base curriculum (Strengthen Multi-Ethnic families in the Community) which is a Violence Prevention Parenting Training Program inspired and written by Marilyn Steele, PH.D. Our program also includes topics that deal with the mental development of children in addition to the area of the child’s brain parents should be aware of when disciplining their young.
TIPS focuses both on improving the communication between students, families, and schools and removing the barriers to attendance for students who have accrued excessive school absences or are at moderate risk for becoming truant. Referrals are made directly by partner schools which are located in various neighborhoods of South Philadelphia, Center City, and North Philadelphia.
Family Empowerment Services is a voluntary program that strives to increase family stability and well-being. Referrals are accepted through the Department of Human Services or by way of self-referral directly to United Communities. Currently, our program serves families residing in South and Northeast Philadelphia neighborhoods.