Prevent Homelessness

The William Penn Foundation, a private philanthropic organization based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, supports initiatives that foster equitable, accessible opportunities for children and families in the region. As part of its broader mission to improve outcomes for young children, the Foundation has launched a funding effort under its “Children and Families” program to prevent homelessness among families with young children in Philadelphia. This funding opportunity specifically addresses housing instability, which includes conditions such as homelessness, overcrowding, and substandard housing. The Foundation recognizes housing instability as a critical barrier to childhood development, educational achievement, and overall family stability. In 2022 alone, over 8,000 children and youth in Philadelphia experienced homelessness, with nearly 2,800 of those being under the age of six. Additionally, one in four renters reported concerns about living conditions such as pest infestations, fire risks, water damage, and mold, all of which compound the challenges young children face. The objective of the funding initiative is to support effective, community-driven efforts that help prevent homelessness and improve housing stability for families with children aged 0–8. The Foundation is open to a broad range of project types, including service coordination, direct support services, and navigation assistance to help families access housing benefits or retain existing housing. The Foundation seeks to empower local organizations to determine the best solutions for their communities, emphasizing grassroots and locally-informed strategies. Funding will be awarded to organizations located in Philadelphia that propose interventions with measurable impacts on family housing stability. The Foundation tracks progress through grantee-reported metrics, including the number of families served and the types of services rendered. Although exact award amounts and total funding available were not disclosed in the source material, it is expected that awarded projects will align closely with the Foundation's overarching goal: to prevent homelessness for 10,000 families with young children by 2035. This opportunity is not offered on a rolling basis, and it is expected to recur in the future, although no specific open or close dates are currently provided. Interested applicants are encouraged to reach out for further information or clarification regarding the opportunity. For specific questions, applicants should contact Aly Tooher, Program Officer for Children and Families, at grants@williampennfoundation.org or call (215) 988-1830. The Foundation’s main office is located at Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103. Although application details such as submission questions, application length, and selection criteria were not explicitly listed, the Foundation typically supports evidence-based, locally-informed interventions that can demonstrate positive, measurable impacts on child and family well-being.