About Us

Brief History

TAFSP has long served as a community leader in identifying and addressing the needs of impoverished, at-risk persons and families. The agency was founded in 1901 by the New Century Club to help immigrant families and individuals settle in the city, particularly mothers with children and young single women who were arriving from foreign countries without means. Since that time our definition of “traveler” has evolved to encompass both wandering and homeless persons, with TAFSP’s services expanding in turn.

The Agency first extended its mission during the Depression to include assistance to all travelers in crisis at the city’s transportation centers, and to unemployed persons throughout Philadelphia. In the 1940’s, TAFSP helped found the USO to provide assistance to traveling uniformed personnel during WWII. In the 1980’s, the Agency developed services to assist refugees from wars in Southeast Asia and Central America. TAFSP has provided emergency assistance to over 500,000 stranded travelers and newcomers to Philadelphia over its 107-year history.

In the 1990’s TAFSP shifted its service focus to address the persistent problems of homelessness and poverty in Philadelphia. The Agency has developed programs of emergency shelter, targeted housing, intensive case management, employment support and intensive out-of-school services in support of homeless families. TAFSP currently operates as a key component of Philadelphia’s continuum of services for homeless and impoverished families. Specifically, the agency is acknowledged among its peers as an expert in providing targeted services, including children and youth services, to “large” homeless families (defined as families with three or more children.)

The homeless population in the city has evolved and changed over the past 25 years, starting as a temporary situation for single men to a chronic condition for men, women, and families. The homeless service system has changed accordingly from a shelter-based system to a continuum of facilities and intensive services. Travelers Aid has been in the forefront of developing new program models for the evolving population of homeless families with large numbers of children.

The Future

The homeless population in the city has evolved and changed over the past 25 years, starting as a temporary situation for single men to a chronic condition for men, women, and families. The homeless service system has changed accordingly from a shelter-based system to a continuum of facilities and intensive services. Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia has been in the forefront of developing new program models for the evolving population of homeless families with large numbers of children. The most recent development is the emergence of a sizeable group of families who are chronically or repeatedly homeless and who require supportive services and housing throughout the years of the rearing of their children. Travelers Aid Family Services of Philadelphia has applied for HUD SHP funds for development of scattered-site supportive housing units for this growing population and expects to initiate the project in summer 2009.

Staff

Executive Director: Gloria Guard

Board of Managers