UESF at a Glance

UESF began in 1983, after several community activists joined forces after a tragic rash of cold related deaths in Philadelphia.  Their goal became to provide assistance to the low-income households in Philadelphia that face the potentially fatal problem of utility termination.

Since 1983, Utility Emergency Services Fund (UESF) has provided over $65 million of utility assistance to over 150,000 families, assisting thse families to achieve new starts. Every dollar we provide through our Utility Grant Program is matched by PECO, The Philadelphia Gas Works (PGW), or the Philadelphia Water Department (PWD).

By focusing on the need for utility assistance as part of a larger housing stabilization issue, UESF has recently expanded its scope to assist vulnerable families with rent, mortgage and security deposits as well as provide ongoing self-sufficiency training to help families preserve their housing. As a result, UESF has become a more responsive organization, one that empowers families to address the root causes of their utility and housing crisis.

We have grown into a $5.8 million non-profit organization with 16 intake sites located throughout Philadelphia. We provide assistance to stabilize housing for vulnerable families through the Utility Grant Program, Homelessness Prevention Program, TANF Housing Stabilization Program, Emergency Shelter Program, the Disability Housing Stabilization Program, Homeless Assistance Fund Programming and the Self Sufficiency Workshops Series.