Looking Back -- Some of our top stories from 2016
We are still early into the new year, so we wanted to take a look back on the biggest Project HOME stories from 2016.
It was a busy and eventful year, with lots of significant accomplishments, new challenges, and a few surprises. Here are some of the highlights:
- Our vision statement gets national attention (February) After our Executive Director Sister Mary Scullion gave an invocation at the National Prayer Breakfast in Washington, DC, President Barack Obama quoted her twice, with the words of the Project HOME Mission Statement: “None of us are home until all of us are home.”
- Groundbreaking for 2415 N. Broad (March) Our newest permanent housing development will provide 88 units of affordable housing for adults and youth.
- Opening of Francis House of Peace (May) Named in honor of Pope Francis, who had visited Philadelphia just months earlier, this residence provides 95 units of permanent supportive housing. It was developed in partnership with Philadelphia Chinatown Development Corporation
- Summer respite for those on the streets (June-July) As part of an effort to provide support for homeless persons on the streets during the Democratic National Convention, Project HOME operated a short-term respite, with wonderful results.
- Closing of HOME Page Café (July) After five wonderful years of providing employment for our formerly homeless residents, the HOME Page Café, a partnership with the Parkway Central branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia, had to close.
- Voter Mobilization (Summer – autumn) Once again, Project HOME worked with the Vote For Homes Coalition to get thousands of homeless, formerly homeless, and low-income Philadelphians registered and mobilized to vote on Election Day, November 8.
- Funding for new youth residence (October) Governor Wolf and Senator Casey joined us to announce a $3 million state grant for Project HOME’s development of a 30-unit affordable LGBT-friendly residence for youth people at risk of homelessness.
- Artists for All Seasons (October) Drexel University once again hosted a beautiful art show featuring the work of many of our residents.
- The return of the Project HOME Choir (December) Just as during our 25th anniversary in 2014, we teamed with the Temple University choir, under the leadership of their music director Paul Rardin, for a fabulous concert – including a new original piece, “We are HOME.”
