Renovation & Adaptive Reuse Projects
2009 – Land Conservancy of Elkins Park, Inc. Formed as partner to Food For Life, the Conservancy’s purpose and mission is to protect and preserve the historic Elkins Estate property in Elkins Park, PA, former home to Philadelphia millionaire entrepreneur and philanthropist, William L. Elkins. In the 1930’s, the family sold the property to the Dominican Sisters of St. Catherine De Ricci, who operated the magnificent estate as a women’s retreat house for 75 years – until financial pressures forced them to sell
1998 – 7425 Old York Road was purchased in 1998, this beautiful, 12,000 square foot Tudor house served as a residential home for various Philadelphia notables during the latter part of the Gilded Age and development of the Old York Road Corridor. Its stained glass, rich woods and vaulted ceilings make its adaptive reuse as office space versatile
Historic Alachua, FL – Meals-on-Wheels. After pinpointing a need for service to the elderly population in this small rural community just outside of Gainesville, Food For Life purchased and renovated this historic property in Alachua for use as a restaurant and kitchen out of which a Meals-on-Wheels program could operate. This program not only fed the elderly but provided them with needed services such as transportation to and from doctor’s visits and general errands. This project inspired and revitalized historic awareness throughout the town..
Veterans Resource Center
1994 – Homeless Veterans shelter and counseling center with 114 beds. Developed and managed The Veterans Residence and Resource Center
Senior Housing
2007/2008 – Paschall Senior Housing. HUD “202” $10,000,000.00 grant from U. S. Housing and Urban Development to provide a new 62 apartment housing facility for underprivileged senior citizens in Philadelphia, which opened in 2009.
1996 – In-Town Retirement Club. Operated a 178 bed, low-cost Retirement and Personal Care facility in South Philadelphia.
Homeless Shelters & Services
2003 – Philadelphia’s largest Homeless Shelter. Food For Life purchased this complex and has been active as a consultant with the operators of the Shelter in their facility maintenance and operations. The Shelter also utilized Food For Life’s Client System Software for their Case Management and billing functions.
2008 – 6901 Woodland Annex. A large addition to the homeless shelter provided 60 additional beds for Philadelphia’s indigent population. Renovations were completed in November. 2008.
1990 – Philadelphia's first Homeless Shelter for recovering drug and alcohol addicts with "Penn Free Funding" from the state of PA and encouragement from the City. The success of this experimental "clean and sober" shelter made it the model for other substance-free residences set up through the City's shelter system.
1987 – Philadelphia’s first Homeless Shelter and Residence for 120 women and children with a Montessori Day Care. Provided residents with as many rehabilitative programs as possible such as drug and alcohol counseling, GED, Life Skills, Job Training, etc.
1983 – Homeless Shelter opened for twenty-five Homeless Men. An open-door policy granted shelter to anyone in need, regardless of mental health or drug problems.
1983 – Soup Kitchen established serving hundreds of free meals daily in response to the surge in homelessness resulting from the slumping economy and use of drugs
Client System Software
1991 – Client System Case Management Software. Developed a state of the art, Homeless Management Information System (HMIS), compliant software for social workers and counselors to conduct effective and timely case management.
2003 – Client System Software. Food For Life made its Client System Software available for use by Community Corrections Centers and it is currently being used in many Social Service and Corrections facilities across the United States to manage their operations and insure compliance with contractual requirements.
Low-income & Special Needs Housing
2007 – New Jersey Special Needs Housing. Purchased three properties with the assistance of the N.J. Governors Trust Fund, and in partnership with NJHMFA and the Greater Trenton Behavioral Health agency to provided a total of nine housing units to for developmentally challenged adults.
1990 – Transitional Housing with 38 single-family homes in cooperation with the City of Philadelphia Department of Public Welfare for those who graduated from a "clean and sober". The goal of the transitional housing program is to provide the necessary support and all-important bridge to independent living for homeless/low-income, disabled or disadvantaged families
Programs for Offenders & Families
2006 – U.S. Department of Justice grant for $296,168 to continue work on “Caring for Children & Family of Offenders” (CCFO), the Food For Life program for children of incarcerated adults.
2005 – U.S. Health and Human Services grant for $198,400 to create and supervise a trial program named “Caring for Children & Family of Offenders” (CCFO). This Food For Life program is focused on the needs of children of incarcerated adults with the goal developing individualized programs to direct them toward a stable life in the mainstream community, and away from the criminal justice system and dependence on drugs and alcohol.
1996 – Community Corrections in conjunction with PA Department of Corrections and The PA Department of Probation and Parole. A two-building, 114-bed capacity operation, it also housed a recovery house population, in conjunction with Philadelphia’s Coordinating Office For Drug And Alcohol Abuse Programs (CODAAP).
1995 – Community Corrections Center managed for the Federal Bureau of Prisons for two years with 25 inmates.
1990 - 2003 – Two Community Correction Centers with 250-beds run in conjunction with the PA Department of Corrections and The PA Department of Probation and Parole. These programs provided a custodial environment different from that of a penal institution with the goal to transition an offender from prison to society while minimizing recidivism.
1990 – "Pre-Release" program geared to incarcerated individuals who were close to completing their sentences. Residency at this site, and participation in its educational and rehabilitative services, prepared them for a successful return to the community at large.
1988 – "Halfway Back" Program in cooperation with the PA Department of Probation and Parole provided residency for sixty men who have committed minor offenses against parole regulations. The goal of this program is to keep these parolees from being returned to correctional institutions and to help them successfully complete the terms of their parole.
