New Report: The Recession’s Impact on the Safety Net in Ohio and Pennsylvania

Posted by on February 2, 2009

Study: PA safety nets needs urgent $1.6b increase

A detailed report documenting the severe impact of the economic crisis on communities in Pennsylvania has determined that Pennsylvania needs at least $1.6 billion in new funding over the next two years to safeguard their social services safety nets.

The report, The Recession’s Impact on the Safety Net in Ohio and Pennsylvania, was prepared for President Obama’s transition team and members of Congress.  The report was prepared by a group of community foundations, including the Philadelphia Foundation and foundations from Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus and Toledo.  The foundations will convene in Washington later this month for further discussions to support their call for the Obama Administration to give priority to strengthening community safety nets as part of its proposed national economic stimulus package.

“This study reveals acute levels of hardship and human suffering, much of which is tied to the economic crisis,” said R. Andrew Swinney, president of The Philadelphia Foundation. “More and more families need help fulfilling their most basic needs, and resources are being depleted.”

To help ease the burden on non-profits, the Board of Managers at The Philadelphia Foundation established a Basic Human Needs Fund last month, which will provide heat, food and shelter to organizations that help the area’s neediest families.

To read the full report, click here.

https://www.philafound.org/Portals/0/Uploads/Documents/Public/TPFRecessionFINALREPORT11409.pdf