Prevent Homelessness

The William Penn Foundation is offering funding under its Children and Families program for the initiative "Prevent Homelessness." This opportunity supports the Foundation’s long-term goal of preventing homelessness for 10,000 families with young children in Philadelphia by the year 2035. This objective reflects the Foundation’s belief that stable housing is fundamental to a child’s ability to thrive physically, mentally, and academically. The funding will support organizations that implement effective, community-driven strategies to keep families stably housed or transition them into more secure living conditions. The issue of housing instability is widespread in Philadelphia, where thousands of families experience homelessness or reside in poor-quality, overcrowded, or unsafe housing. During the 2022 school year, over 8,000 children and youth were reported homeless in the city, including nearly 2,800 children under the age of six. Housing instability contributes to a range of negative outcomes, including poor health, behavioral issues, and school absenteeism. These factors directly undermine the early development and academic success of children. The Foundation is seeking proposals from Philadelphia-based organizations that demonstrate innovative and effective approaches to preventing homelessness among families with children ages 0 to 8. Eligible efforts may include service coordination, provision of direct financial or housing-related supports, or assistance with accessing benefits and navigating complex systems. The Foundation encourages organizations to propose strategies that they believe will be most impactful in addressing local housing instability and preventing family homelessness. Applications must be submitted through the William Penn Foundation’s online application portal and should include a written proposal and a project budget. The Foundation applies a standard overhead rate to each grant budget to cover general administrative expenses. Proposals will first undergo a staff review. Those advancing to the next phase will be subject to a site visit. Following the site visit, Foundation staff will prepare recommendations for final approval by the Foundation’s Board of Directors. The decision timeline is typically about 90 days from the date of submission. The upcoming RFP cycle for Prevent Homelessness opens in December 2026 and closes in January 2027. Given the structured grantmaking calendar, this opportunity is considered part of the Foundation’s recurring funding strategy. Proposals submitted outside the official RFP process are only accepted under urgent, time-sensitive conditions and must align directly with the Foundation’s strategic objectives. Program-related inquiries should be directed to Aly Tooher, Program Officer for Children and Families. General questions about the application process or technical issues with the portal can be addressed to the grants team at [email protected] or by phone at (215) 988-1830. The Foundation is headquartered at Two Logan Square, Suite 1100, 100 North 18th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103.

Proposals should clearly show how services will prevent family homelessness and align with Foundation goals.