In 2021, the decision not to renew the public housing tax subsidy at University City Townhomes in West Philadelphia caused widespread concern. This move affected 70 households, sparking worries about their forced relocation. Many residents had called the Townhomes their home for decades, raising questions about their future and the daunting prospect of starting over somewhere new.
One of the affected residents was Barbara Martin, who waited a decade for her chance to move into University City Townhomes. She and her son lived there together for 17 years. The impending change left her, and others in a similar situation, uncertain about where they would go next and how they would manage the transition.
Shortly after, City Councilmember Jamie Gauthier stepped in and proposed legislation to halt the site’s demolition, advocating for future residential development. This initiative led to a settlement where IBID Associates, the property owner, provided $3.5 million for the relocation and housing costs of the residents–averaging roughly $50,000 per household.
STEPPING IN
United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey was entrusted as the financial intermediary to distribute these funds and collaborate with trusted community partners to set up vital support services like financial counseling and legal assistance. “Adversity often reveals our true calling. Despite the presence of challenging circumstances, the choice to act and offer support was clear,” emphasized Bill Golderer, President and CEO of United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey.
In addition to the transfer of settlement funds, United Way received additional funding from a coalition comprised of local anchor institutions and trusted community partners. This collective effort was aimed at guaranteeing households had access to essential support services during the transition.
With settlement and funding identified, United Way swiftly executed plans to collaborate with organizations including Clarifi and Community Legal Services. This rapid response was hailed as a remarkable success by Kim Rogers, Director of Empowerment Program at Clarifi.
“One of the major successes of this program was the fact that United Way was able to really mobilize not only information, but also get from the beginning to the end of the process extremely quickly,” said Rogers. “We were seeing individuals within a few days of being able to get in contact with them, and then within another few days, submitting that information to United Way, and then maybe two more days for them to turn it around and actually cut the checks. So, the speed ... it was a tremendous success.”
“One of the major successes of this program was the fact that United Way was able to really mobilize not only information, but also get from the beginning to the end of the process extremely quickly."
Jill Roberts, Director of Advocacy at Clarifi continued, “I don’t know how much better it could have been done that was within our control, and I credit United Way for being a solid partner who hears us. I’m super proud that they came to us because we get it done.”
Anticipating the complexities residents would have handling these funds, Community Legal Services provided essential legal expertise to guide residents on how their financial settlements could impact their public benefits.
“Getting these funds was so urgent for people, especially people who needed to relocate and hadn’t done it yet,” said Lydia Gottesfeld, Managing Attorney for the Health and Independence Unity, Community Legal Services (CLS). “Having the partners [involved] be flexible was really important here. That flexibility and willingness to meet people where they’re at was an important piece.”
LEADING ACROSS SECTORS
Instrumental in selecting United Way, Councilmember Gauthier praised the efficiency and thoroughness demonstrated in engaging with every household and ensuring no one was overlooked.
“The most ideal situation is one where nobody has to leave the place that they call home, nobody has to leave the community where they feel at home and where they have access to their social and emotional network. Outside of that, this was a huge success,” said Councilmember Jamie Gauthier, District 3.
“It was also a success working with United Way. It went even better than anyone could have imagined,” continued the Councilmember. “United Way was incredibly thorough in their outreach. They did everything that they could to make sure that they reached every single household, whether that required phone calls, texts, letters — they emailed us on a weekly basis to report on progress. They were also very communicative with the Law Department and with the other service providers we were working with to make sure nobody fell through the cracks.”
THE NEXT CHAPTER
Housing provides a foundation for individuals and families to establish stability in their lives. The impactful collaboration among organizations, proudly led by United Way, not only ensured a thoughtful approach to an established process, but also demonstrated the power of unified efforts in addressing community needs during times of uncertainty.
By Winter 2024, all 70 households have been successfully relocated, completing necessary processes and starting fresh. Barbara Martin now resides in her new home, expressing gratitude for the support she received throughout the transition. “I think [the partners] were wonderful and it was a good experience for me. I would like to continue seeing them also, because they helped me,” said Barbara Martin, former tenant, University City Townhomes. “I think [this process] was wonderful…I am really satisfied with where I have been placed at.”