PathWays PA Policy Blog

It happens to almost everyone. Sometimes, the need to take family leave is for the happiest of all reasons, such as the birth or adoption of a child. And at other times, we need to take leave for the scariest of reasons, like a cancer diagnosis or a car accident. But when one of these or thousands of other scenarios come up, most working people in the United States have no access to paid family leave. Taking the time to care means putting jobs and economic security at risk in a time when most families can ill afford it. Last year, Congressional Leaders introduced the FAMILY Act, which would give workers the opportunity to continue earning some money while staying home to care for themselves or their family members. Under the FAMILY Act, employees and employers would create a self-sustaining fund through small shared contributions. Workers could then tap into the fund for a portion of their pay, ensuring that they can pay their bills and contribute to local businesses and the econom...

As we get ready for Thanksgiving and the beginning of the holiday season, we hope you will help us kick off this time of giving with a donation to PathWays PA. Your continued generosity helps our families succeed in becoming self-sufficient. While we always encourage monetary donations , you can give to PathWays PA in a variety of ways while shopping for other people on your list. On Black Friday, consider buying some gender neutral baby clothes for one of the many children we work with! New (unused) baby clothes, socks, and hats are always appreciated, especially as the weather gets colder. On Small Business Saturday, think about purchasing a children's book at a local bookstore for one of our families. On Cyber Monday (or whenever you shop online), do your shopping through AmazonSmile or iGive so that a portion of your purchase goes directly to PathWays PA.  (PS - if you sign up for iGive as a new customer before December 15 and try the free iGive button before Februar...

November is National Runaway Prevention Month, which means it is the perfect time to remind everyone of PathWays PA's Basic Center Program (BCP). The BCP is a community-based residential facility located in West Philadelphia that provides runaway prevention and intervention services for teen girls who have runaway, are homeless or are at risk of being a runaway and/or homeless youth. Five clients, aged 13-17 years, may reside at the Basic Center Program at any given time. The BCP is also now offering an after-school drop-in program for residents and non-residents. The teen lounge will be available for girls ages 13-17 in Philadelphia on Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. Teen girls can get homework help, a snack, sign up for support and life skills groups or just hang out. To learn more about the Basic Center Program, please contact the Basic Center at 215-397-4287. As the winter sets in and the temperatures turn cold, remember that America’s youth need saf...

The HeroesPath staff will be participating in Veterans Day activities throughout the community to thank Veterans for their service and discuss how the HeroesPath program can help Veterans successfully transition to civilian life and civilian employment. Be sure to say hello to the HeroesPath staff when you see them at the following events: Delaware County Veterans are invited to a breakfast hosted by State Representative William Adolph at Paxon Hollow Country Club, from 8:00am to 9:30am at 850 Paxon Hollow Road, Media Pa 19063. Free breakfast to honor the service of our veterans, as well as representatives from the DMVA and Herbert Fouch, HeroesPath Veteran Navigator to answer any questions veterans may have. RSVP by November 10 to Kyle Rice, Constituent Outreach Specialist at 610-544-9878. The 55th Annual Delaware County Veterans Day Parade starting at 11:00am on State Street in Media. Our own HeroesPath Veteran Navigator, Herbert Fouch, Combat Veteran 2004-2005 Western Iraq, w...

PathWays PA invites you to join a statewide coalition focused on addressing the needs of low-income Pennsylvanians and the policies that can help them build assets and resources. This coalition will be part of the nationwide Assets and Opportunities Network, a movement-oriented group of advocates, practitioners, policymakers, and others nationwide working to expand the reach and deepen the impact of asset-based strategies. Network members are on the frontlines of state and local policy advocacy, coalition-building and service delivery. RSVP to join us or to learn more during our interactive webinar December 2! As you may know, PathWays PA is an active, known presence in the areas of policy and advocacy in Pennsylvania. We welcome the opportunity to work with your organization to build a strong, vibrant coalition that will play a key role in creating asset opportunities for your clients and for families throughout the state. The goal is to create a statewide effort, encompassing ...

From our friends at The National Network for Youth The needs of runaway and homeless youth continue to be an issue across the country and right here in our community. As the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) works to meet President Obama’s “Opening Doors” mandate to end youth homelessness by 2020, HUD released some youth specific documents in the past month. These documents include " Children and Youth and HUD’s Homeless Definition ." In this document, readers can find outlines and summaries of the four categories of HUD Homelessness assistance program eligibility. A letter regarding HUD's work with youth homelessness has also been issued. HUD also recently released their 2014 Annual Homeless Assessment Report . According to the National Network for Youth and others, this report includes "misleading data" - you can read a press release from national organizations  here. The National Network for Youth is offering organizations and ...

***If you live in Southeastern Pennsylvania, you can contact PathWays PA at 610-543-5022 to see if you qualify.*** Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP, formerly known as Food Stamps) What is it? SNAP is a federal benefit program that puts food on the tables of low-income households. SNAP recipients in Pennsylvania use an  Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card , also known as ACCESS. This card works like a debit card and can be used at grocery stores, supermarkets and some farmers markets. SNAP benefits buy food items or seeds and plants to grow your own food. Do I qualify? The SNAP program will look at all kinds of factors to determine your eligibility, like whether you have an elderly or disabled person living in your household, your savings account, medical bills, etc. Eligibility is also based on monthly income and expenses. Households where all members receive or are authorized to receive Cash Assistance, Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and/or Family ...