Mission:Dignity Housing is a non-profit organization established by formerly homeless people to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty confronting low-income and homeless families and individuals in Philadelphia. Dignity Housing promotes their self-sufficiency by providing affordable rental housing with individualized social services, homeownership opportunities, assistance in pursuit of education objectives, workforce development, and financial management assistance.
Dignity News and Recent Happenings
Holiday Giving
Help make the holidays a positive and memorable time for our tenant families.
Between now and December 10th, Dignity is collecting donations of items for children, teenagers and households in our program. Please visit the "How You Can Help" section of our website for details about our most needed items.
Call For Volunteers!
Childcare Volunteers Needed:
Dignity Housing is looking for caring individuals to provide childcare to 10-15 young children (ages 2-10) on Wednesday, November 19 between 6-7:30.
We are looking for volunteers with a recent criminal background check and Pennsylvania State child abuse clearance to provide childcare. Prior childcare experience preferred. References encouraged.
Click here to learn about additional volunteer opportunities!
Dignity Housing Recognizes Tenant Achievements
On Friday, October 17th, Dignity Housing held its annual Tenant Recognition Reception at the University of Pennsylvania’s Bodek Lounge. Board members, staff, friends, Dignity tenants and their families attended the event which included a performance by Dignity’s Drumline, a dinner and recognition ceremony.
During the ceremony, Dignity honored current tenants for achievements in education, employment/career, income management, and family stability. Recent graduates, alumni and youth were also recognized for their achievements and contributions. Dignity alum Coretta Heath served as Keynote Speaker for the event. Ms. Heath shared insights from her time as a Dignity resident and employee as well as the career and educational goals she has achieved since.
Among those honored for outstanding achievement were Naderah Ensley (Education), Radiyah Bankhead (Employment & Career), Arisleida Peguero (Income Management) and Eva Davis-Williams (Family Stability). Dignity selected two recent graduates to receive the Tenant of the Year Award: Mary Brown and Khadijah Puckett.
The achievements of the youth in Dignity’s programs were also recognized during the ceremony. Ivyn Garner, Keyshawna Melton, Jordan Rojas and Sydney Smith were recognized for making their school’s honor roll, while Yanira Anderson, Lebron Gray, Jordan Rojas and Timothy Williams received the award for Academic Commitment. Individual awards for Youth Leadership and Career Readiness went to Gabriel Peguero and Nikira Davenport, respectively. Finally, Dignity recognized the youth participants of the Drumline who include Jahmane Croxton, Derricka Elliot, Ivan Fairfax, Lakeisha Fairfax, Zakayyah Hackett, Tyana Johnson, Gabriel Peguero, Aminah Philson, Paris Ward, Ariana Wilson and Tiana Wilson.
Each year, the reception is an opportunity for Dignity’s staff and tenants to celebrate and recharge, a sentiment expressed by Executive Director Alicia Christian during her closing remarks.
A Special Thank you for recent contributions to our youth programs!
The Collins Family of the Front/Olney ShopRite
& The Brown Family of the Cheltenham ShopRite
Wal-Mart Supercenter 9745 Roosevelt Blvd, Philadelphia PA Visit Walmart.com
Dignity Housing receives three-year grant from The PEW Charitable Trusts!
RECENT HAPPENINGS:
Summer Trip to Washington DC Helps Teens Expereince "Community"
Dignity Housing’s annual Seasons of Change Washington DC trip took place June 27 – 28, 2008. Three teen residents were accompanied by Mike Stevens, the Seasons of Change Facilitator and Chris Waninger, Dignity’s Housing Placement Coach to DC for a weekend of history, culture, and camaraderie. While in DC, the students visited Museums of Natural History and Art, the White House and the National Mall, and attended a Washington Nationals baseball game. The students were able to experience “community” amongst each other as members of the DII community, shared a sense of camaraderie amongst the diverse crowd at the baseball game, and felt the importance of how the greater community honors our ancestors and fallen war heroes through the National Mall Memorials. The highlight of the weekend for everyone was definitely the Washington Nationals baseball game. They took lots of pictures of the event, cheered on the home team with 40,000 Nationals fans, and simply enjoyed being at a professional sporting event with a group of friends. Dignity Housing is proud of thier dedicated staff who truly went above and beyod to give these teens a special and memorable weekend.
NEW BOARD MEMBERS:
WELCOME TO THE DIGNITY HOUSING FAMILY!
Zachariah B. Hughes
&
Edward Mensah
Two Newest Members of Dignity Housing's Board of Directors
The annual United Way Campaign is underway! Please consider designating a gift in support of Dignity's homeless families, and in honor of our 20th Anniversary. Our donor number is 02338.
Thank you.
Alicia Christian featured in the "Philadelphia Inquirer":
Influences: What Shapes the Minds that make the News?
Quotation to live by: "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly." - The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., "Letter From the Birmingham Jail," April 16, 1963.
Dignity's founder and Executive Director, Alicia Christian, was featured in a Philadelphia Inquirer article. Ms. Christian's peaceful demeanor and dedication to her work are an inspiration to the staff at Dignity Housing, our clients, and to other service providers all over the city.
A convenient, simple, and effective way to directly improve our clients lives!
Throughout the year, Dignity Housing is continuously blessed with donations from individuals and businesses in the community. These donations are a significant way that we provide items for our tenants homes, books for our After-School Program, and food and prizes for our special events. However, there are certain things we need in order to continue our work. So that more money continues to flow to our programs, we have set up a wish list on Amazon.com. We hope you will consider purchasing one of these items!
Use your credit card to purchase the items you want to donate to Dignity Housing.
When you check out, check the "gift message" to add a note or message
If you are interested in any of these ways to make a difference, or have any questions about donating, contact Jordan Butler at (215)713-0960 ext.204 or jbutler@dignityhousing.org
Dignity Housing 
“community” amongst each other as members of the DII community, shared a sense of camaraderie amongst the diverse crowd at the baseball game, and felt the importance of how the greater community honors our ancestors and fallen war heroes through the National Mall Memorials. The highlight of the weekend for everyone was definitely the Washington Nationals baseball game. They took lots of pictures of the event, cheered on the home team with 40,000 Nationals fans, and simply enjoyed being at a professional sporting event with a group of friends. Dignity Housing is proud of thier dedicated staff who truly went above and beyod to give these teens a special and memorable weekend. 
