Open Hearth Inc

OPEN HEARTH, INC., A PRIVATE NONPROFIT ORGANIZATION SERVING CHESTER COUNTY AND PORTIONS OF MONTGOMERY COUNTY, PROVIDES INNOVATIVE PROGRAMS TO HELP PEOPLE END THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS AND ACHIEVE FINANCIAL SELF-SUFFICIENCY. THROUGH ITS OWN DIRECT PROVISION OF SERVICES, AS WELL AS AN ESTABLISHED NETWORK OF OTHER NONPROFITS, THE ORGANIZATION SUPPORTS AND EMPOWERS PEOPLE AS THEY ACQUIRE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, A MEANS OF TRANSPORTATION, AND FINANCIAL VIABILITY.

OPEN HEARTH ADMINISTERED PERMANENT HOUSING SUBSIDIES FOR 86 INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES WHO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS AND HAVE A DOCUMENTED DISABILITY VIA THE CONTINUUM OF CARE PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING PROGRAM (COC). ADDITIONALLY, OPEN HEARTH, INC. PROVIDES HOUSING STARTUP COSTS, EMERGENCY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO PREVENT EVICTION OR UTILITY SHUT-OFF, AND HOTEL RESPITE FOR ADULTS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WHO HAVE A DIAGNOSIS OF A SERIOUS AND PERSISTENT MENTAL ILLNESS THROUGH THE HOUSING CONTINGENCY FUND PROGRAM (HCF). A TOTAL OF 75 HOUSEHOLDS RECEIVED HCF ASSISTANCE THIS YEAR. THE TARGETED HOMELESSNESS RESOURCE COORDINATOR (THRC) POSITION WAS ESTABLISHED IN JANUARY 2020 AS AN INTEGRAL PART OF CHESTER COUNTY'S EFFORT TO END HOMELESSNESS. ACCORDING TO THE US DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD), THE BEST PRACTICE FOR ENDING HOMELESSNESS FOR ANY POPULATION IS THROUGH THE CREATION AND MANAGEMENT OF A BY-NAME LIST. THE THRC IS RESPONSIBLE FOR WORKING IN CONCERT WITH CHESTER COUNTY'S HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM (HMIS) DATA LEAD TO MAINTAIN AND MONITOR THIS LIST, WHILE ALSO OVERSEEING A COMMUNITY-WIDE EFFORT AMONG ALL HOUSING PROVIDERS TO PRIORITIZE THOSE ON THIS LIST FOR PERMANENT HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES. THIS IS PRIMARILY DONE BY FACILITATING MULTIPLE BIWEEKLY CASE CONFERENCE MEETINGS WITH CROSS-SYSTEM PROVIDERS TO ENSURE THAT ALL HOUSEHOLDS EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS ARE EQUITABLY OFFERED SERVICES AND HOUSING RESOURCES. IN 2023, 514 HOUSEHOLDS WERE CASE CONFERENCED.

THE FAMILY SAVINGS PARTNER (FSP) PROGRAM ASSISTS ELIGIBLE HOUSEHOLDS IN BUILDING ASSETS BY PROVIDING MATCHED SAVINGS FOR PROGRAM GRADUATES TO BE APPLIED TOWARDS FIRST-TIME HOME OWNERSHIP, HIGHER EDUCATION, OR CAR PURCHASE. THIS PAST YEAR, FSP SERVED A TOTAL OF 80 HOUSEHOLDS, WITH 24 SUCCESSFULLY PURCHASING THEIR DESIRED ASSETS. FURTHERMORE, EMBEDDED IN FSP - AND AVAILABLE TO THE PUBLIC - ARE FREE FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS ON TOPICS INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO BUDGETING, CREDIT REPAIR, HOME PURCHASE, FINANCING COLLEGE, AND THE CAR BUYING PROCESS. 18 PERSONAL FINANCIAL EDUCATION WORKSHOPS WERE HOSTED THROUGHOUT THE YEAR WITH 204 TOTAL (70 UNDUPLICATED) ATTENDEES. OUR FINANCIAL NAVIGATORS SERVE AS A POINT OF ENTRY FOR THE UNITED WAY OF CHESTER COUNTY'S FINANCIAL STABILITY CENTER LOCATED IN EXTON, PA. THEIR PRIMARY ROLE IS TO PROVIDE FINANCIAL COACHING SERVICES TO CLIENTS WHO ASPIRE TO ACHIEVE THE GOAL(S) OF INCREASING INCOME, DECREASING DEBT, AND/OR BUILDING SAVINGS. ADDITIONALLY, THEY FUNCTION AS RESOURCE COORDINATORS, CONNECTING CLIENTS TO OTHER SERVICES HOUSED AT THE FINANCIAL STABILITY CENTER, AS WELL AS TO OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS. A TOTAL OF 383 CLIENTS WERE SERVED THIS YEAR, WHICH INCLUDES 84 NEW FULL-SERVICE, 179 BRIEF SERVICES, AND 120 FULL-SERVICE CLIENTS CARRIED OVER FROM THE PREVIOUS YEAR.

OPEN HEARTH, INC.'S MISSION INCLUDES THE ORGANIZATION'S ONGOING EFFORTS TO STRENGTHEN THE COMMUNITY AND MEET THE NEEDS OF THOSE THAT IT SERVES. THE ORGANIZATION HAS TAKEN A LEADERSHIP POSITION IN THE COMMUNITY ON THE ISSUES OF AFFORDABLE HOUSING, FINANCIAL STABILITY, AND IMPROVED QUALITY OF LIFE FOR ALL. THE CEO SERVES ON THE COMMUNITY COALITION BOARD AND CHAIRS THE GOVERNANCE BOARD OF THE CHESTER COUNTY PARTNERSHIP TO END HOMELESSNESS. ADDITIONAL STAFF SERVE ON OTHER COMMUNITY INITIATIVES INCLUDING THE PHOENIXVILLE AFFORDABLE HOUSING COUNCIL, PHOENIXVILLE HOSPITAL COMMUNITY BENEFIT COMMITTEE, THE CHESTER COUNTY HOUSING AUTHORITY'S FAMILY SELF SUFFICIENCY COMMITTEE, RIDE FOR HEALTH INITIATIVE, AND PHOENIXVILLE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S HUB, JUST TO NAME A FEW. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO CREATED AND PUBLISHED SIX EDITIONS OF THE HELP BOOK: A HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES GUIDE, A POPULAR RESOURCE FOR AGENCIES, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO CONNECT THEIR NEEDS TO LOCAL AREA SERVICES. ADDITIONALLY, OPEN HEARTH, INC. FOUNDED AND FACILITATES THE PHOENIXVILLE AREA RESOURCE NETWORK (PARN), A MONTHLY DROP-IN MEETING ATTENDED EACH YEAR BY THE STAFF OF OVER 100 LOCAL SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES.