Mayor Cherelle Parker’s administration has established a new grant program to fund organizations in neighborhoods that have been the most disproportionately impacted by Philadelphia’s opioid crisis.
The $3.6 million fund will be distributed to trusted community organizations “engaged in a diverse array of programming, education and other life-saving work,” the city’s Office of Public Safety said Friday in a news release.
Kensington and North Philadelphia were each mentioned specifically in the announcement and are expected to be among the areas benefitting from the grants.
“Communities like Kensington have suffered for too long, and this approach prioritizes the resources and accountability needed to bring lasting change,” state Sen. Christine Tartaglione said in a statement praising the program. “These investments are about saving lives, restoring dignity, and rebuilding neighborhoods.”
Parker administration officials said the initiative is part of the mayor’s vision for addressing the opioid crisis.
The grants will be awarded later this year, according to the city. For more information, email ops@phila.gov.
