As executive director of Family Promise of Philadelphia, I see firsthand how quickly families can lose housing stability. A job loss, medical crisis, or unexpected expense can push a family already living paycheck to paycheck into impossible choices between rent, food, childcare and healthcare.

Every day, our team works with families fighting to stay housed. Last year alone, Family Promise of Philadelphia helped prevent 127 families and more than 250 children from experiencing homelessness through rental assistance, case management and stabilization services. We also sheltered additional families and provided diapers, food, clothing and household essentials to hundreds more.

But the stability these families work so hard to achieve is becoming increasingly fragile.

Proposed federal cuts to Medicaid and SNAP would have devastating consequences for vulnerable families across Philadelphia. When families lose access to healthcare or food assistance, housing instability often follows close behind. For many parents, even a temporary disruption in benefits can trigger a cascade of missed rent, mounting debt and the risk of eviction.

At a time when the cost of living continues to rise, we need deeper investment in the systems that keep families stable, not reductions that place more children at risk of homelessness.

That is why partnerships between direct service organizations and grassroots advocacy groups matter so much. At Family Promise of Philadelphia, we are proud to work alongside organizations like POWER Interfaith that are organizing communities and advocating for policies that strengthen the safety net families depend on.

I encourage Philadelphians to stay engaged, support their neighbors, and get involved in the work of building a city where every family has the opportunity to remain safely housed.

Robert Byrne, Executive Director

Family Promise of Philadelphia

Mt. Airy