Philadelphia is one of the poorest major cities in the United States, as over 28 percent of the city’s residents live below the poverty line. Poverty is often the result of a generational cycle. Families struggle to escape poverty due to several complicated factors, including a lack of access to education, affordable housing, support services, and other tools. The Philadelphia-based charity ACHIEVEability is working to address poverty in West Philadelphia by helping families find access to these and other tools. Let’s take a detailed look at how the charity strives toward this goal.
History of ACHIEVEability ACHIEVEability was founded in 1981 by the Sisters of Mercy, business professionals, and women struggling with homelessness. Since then, the organization has evolved and expanded its reach.
Here is a quick overview of what the charity has accomplished over the past 40 years:
1981 - The charity is founded as Philadelphians Concerned About Housing (PCAH) and acquired its first housing units from the Mercy Hospital of Philadelphia
1984-85 - 35 housing units are developed
1985 - First tenants join the PCAH Board
1986-87 - The Philadelphia Health Management Corporation and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development recognize PCAH as a model program
1994 - PCAH becomes a United Way member agency
1999 - PCAH opens a computer center and launches a home ownership program
1990-1999 - 72 housing units are developed for families
2003 - Name changes from PCAH to ACHIEVEability
2005 - Haddington/Cobbs Creek 2010: A Plan for Our Future is developed through a co-led neighborhood planning process
2006 - Launch of the ACHIEVEability Connects Program
2007 - 51 housing units and 158 homes are developed for families
2008 - The Dewey Home Ownership Project is established, offering 10 homes for low- and moderate-income first-time homebuyers
2012 - A $7.5 million renovation of Lawson Residences at Von Louhr is completed—the first development financed by Low Income Housing Tax Credits and Historical Tax Credits
2014 - A strategic alliance is formed with Mission First Housing Group
2014 - ACHIEVEability hosts the first annual Health and Wellness Summer Jam
2015 - The charity launches the WorkSmart West Philly Program
2017 - ACHIEVEability appoints Jamila Harris-Morrison as executive director
2018 - Ground is broken on the New Market West Community Center
2019 - The ACHIEVEability Community Development Corporation and Targeted Corridor Management Program for the 60th Street Commercial Corridor are launched
2020 - Programs are expanded in response to the COVID-19 pandemic
2021 - ACHIEVEability moves to its new home at New Market West
Family Self-Sufficiency Program The Family Self-Sufficiency Program (FSSP) is ACHIEVEability’s longest-running program. This program provides affordable housing and coaching to families in an effort to break the cycle of generational poverty through education.
Families receive assistance in finding jobs that pay living wages, post-secondary education, and permanent housing. These three services help West Philly families become more economically stable with more upward mobility in their careers.
The stated goals of FSSP include:
Help more parents earn post-secondary degrees and professional credentials
Help more families find jobs that pay a living wage and offer benefits
Help parents become more financially secure by advancing their careers
In 2021, the FSSP program had the following impact:
124 families and 282 children received coaching and a home
Nine parents earned professional credentials, five earned bachelor’s degrees, three earned associate degrees, and one got their high school diploma
91 percent of program beneficiaries found permanent housing
50 percent increased their income
100 percent of school-aged children stayed in school
ACHIEVEability Connects This program is dedicated to helping the West Philadelphia community as a whole by providing resources and fostering civic engagement and economic development. Connects is designed to help residents build off their strengths and make meaningful contributions to the equitable growth of this part of the city. Volunteers provide businesses with technical assistance and give residents basic needs services.
The goals of the ACHIEVEability Connects program include:
Foster equitable and inclusive economic development in the neighborhoods of Haddington and Cobbs Creek
Help residents access more anti-poverty services and opportunities for civic engagement
Eliminate and prevent neighborhood blight by supporting 60th Street Commercial Corridor businesses
Here is an overview of this program’s impact from last year:
2,577 people received basic needs services
177 enrolled in public benefits
527 received free tax preparation
216 received emergency financial assistance
Three businesses improved their safety standards
WorkSmart West Philly
WorkSmart West Philly (WSWP) helps job seekers overcome barriers to employment and become more employable for living-wage jobs that can help to lift them out of poverty. This program partners with unemployed and underemployed individuals and helps them find employment by providing them with training, helping them find employment resources, and fostering connections between community members and employers.
Last year, WSWP had the following impact:
237 job seekers were helped by the program
163 received help crafting strong resumes
125 went through vocational assessments
105 participated in skills-building workshops
54 found employment