United Communities Southeast Philadelphia has a long and rich tradition of service to children, adults and families residing in Southeast Philadelphia. United Communities was established in 1969 through the merger of three settlement houses that date back to 1847. For the past 38 years, United Communities has carried out the original settlement mission to promote the educational and economic advancement of individuals and families within its host neighborhoods.
Today, our mission is to work in partnership with the various communities for social and economic justice and to foster harmony for building self-sustaining communities through:
- Advocacy that promotes member participation and leadership
- Economic Programs for enhancing community development
- Social Programs supporting individual and family well-being
- Educational opportunities that advance skill development and knowledge
United Communities currently operates two facilities, each of which serves as a major hub for community resources and spirit in three very low income, diverse areas of Southeast Philadelphia: the Houston Center, located at 8th Street and Snyder Avenue; and Southwark House, located at Front & Ellsworth Streets. In addition, United Communities also operates children’s programs at the Bok Technical High School located at 8th & Mifflin Streets: The Kid’s Place School Readiness Program and the United Communities Beacon @ Bok; and afterschool programs at the Sharswood Elementary, Southwark Elementary, Fell Elementary and Mastery Charter schools.
In 1996, United Communities established its own Community Development Corporation, now a separately incorporated but closely linked organization. Together, United Communities and the CDC provide services and community driven activities that address the needs, further the strengths, and reinforce community spirit for more than 11,000 children, adults and families through a wide array of services. These services include:
- Preschool Programming
- Afterschool and summer camp programs
- Adult Education (ABE/GED/ESL)
- Housing counseling and homeowner education
- Emergency energy assistance
- Emergency food assistance
- Housing rehabilitation
- Prevention/Intervention programs for teenage youth
- Youth employment program
- Computer literacy for children and adults
- Out-of-school youth educational/job readiness programming
- Case Management and Family Services
- SCOH (Services To Children In Their Own Homes)
- Truancy Prevention/Intervention Programs
- Parent Education program
- Evening recreational activities for adults
Through our years of service we have established and maintained strong relationships with local schools and community-based organizations. In the past several years, United Communities has been an active participant in the Southeast Philadelphia Collaborative. This participation has enabled United Communities to enhance its programming for youth, further our partnerships with other organizations, and increase the visibility of our agency.
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