West Chester Pa (November 14, 2022) – The Friends Association will receive $50,000 in state funding to support important renovations and upgrades to its emergency shelter thanks to the work of state Senator Carolyn Comitta.
“For 200 years, the Friends Association has been helping our neighbors build stability, financial independence, and resilience,” Comitta, who serves on the Senate Health and Human Services Committee, said. “With this investment, we continue to work to ensure that everyone – every individual, family, and child – has a safe, healthy place to call home and the opportunities that come with it.”
The funds will support critical plumbing repairs at the nonprofit organization’s Family Center, which provides emergency housing for families in six apartment units. The updates will help ensure that families have access to a trauma-informed care environment within each unit.
“We are incredibly grateful to Senator Comitta for this generous funding and her ongoing support and advocacy for Friends Association and the families we serve,” said Jennifer Lopez, CEO of the Friends Association. “This funding comes at a perfect time. For more than a decade the beloved Family center has provided more than 118,000 nights of shelter for families experiencing the trauma of homelessness. The monumental effort to restore the aging building will ensure it continues to serve families with dignity for decades to come.”
Comitta announced the funding at the dedication of a mural on the Friends Association’s building on West Chestnut Street in West Chester. The mural, painted by West Chester University sophomore Noah Burns, depicts the organization’s values and service to the community on its 200th anniversary.
In addition to providing emergency housing, the Friends Association offers a number of services to help prevent housing insecurity, assist people in recovery, address systemic racism and inequity, promote community health and wellness, and empower families and individuals with the skills they need to overcome adversity.
For more information about the Friends Association, visit www.friendsassoc.org
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