Advocating for Students and Teachers in The Learning Center at Third Street Alliance
Nancy Frederick, director of The Learning Center, is constantly balancing the needs of the students and the teachers in the center — evaluating how to better serve the students and their families. And since the beginning of the pandemic, Nancy has been hard at work advocating for early childhood education programs like The Learning Center. […]
Moving Forward from the Eviction Moratorium at Third Street Alliance
When the National Eviction Moratorium ended on July 31, the staff in the homeless services department braced for what would come next. At Third Street Alliance, what came next was a flurry of applications for Emergency Rental Assistance, and an influx of new families in the shelter. Between Aug. 4 and Sept. 15, more than 90 families […]
Turning Point offers counseling services at Third Street Alliance
Third Street Alliance is not strictly a shelter for victims of domestic violence, but many of the residents come to recognize they have been victims of domestic partner abuse in some form, not just physical. The abuse can be financial, verbal or emotional, too. The abuse takes away the victim’s trust in the relationship, brings […]
Rental Relief at the Right Moment
When COVID-19 hit the Lehigh Valley last year, many families worried where they would be getting a paycheck to ensure they could keep a roof over their heads and their families safe from the pandemic. Landlords, too, were faced with the possibility of severe financial hardship if rent could not be paid by their current […]
Gathering Data on Homelessness: How the Annual PIT Counts Tell Portion of the Story
Every winter human service agencies and volunteers throughout the nation conduct a census of the homeless in their communities. This census, called the Point In Time (PIT) count, is conducted in the last 10 days of January each year, according to the guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The count includes individuals experiencing […]
New Learning Center Program Helps Students Overcome Pandemic Stress
The Learning Center at Third Street Alliance has always focused on the whole child and the changing needs of our students and families. That’s why when students came back from the shutdown period and teachers noticed significant changes in some of our students — escalation of negative behaviors, more frequent and longer-lasting emotional outbursts, and […]
Third Street Alliance Welcomes Julie LaBella to the Board of Directors
Julie LaBella, the newest Third Street Alliance Board of Directors member. Third Street Alliance for Women & Children’s Board of Directors welcomes Julie LaBella, Senior Director of Regulatory and External Affairs for Talen Energy. LaBella’s position on the board was approved during the Nov. 16, 2020 meeting for service to begin on Jan. 1. She has been a member of the agency’s Finance Committee since January 2020. “I’ve long […]
Homeless Services Sees Changes in New Year
The New Year will welcome staff changes to the Homeless Services program at Third Street Alliance. Please join us in wishing Janice Thomas, Director of Homeless Services, a fond farewell. Janice joined Third Street Alliance in July 2015 and has been instrumental in building our program from a residential shelter into a full-scale homeless services department. Earlier this year her husband […]
Did You Know? Important CARES Act Charitable Giving Information
Third Street’s annual appeal for funding is underway. As you consider your gift, we want you to know that a new CARES Act rule allows taxpayers to deduct up to $300 on their tax returns for cash donations made in 2020. While the attached NYTimes article spells out the rule in greater detail — and your […]
Juggling Classrooms: Adjusting to hybrid learning models and distanced learning
Planning for the 2020-2021 school year started in June for The Learning Center as the team looked at every detail to ensure each student was equipped for a smooth start to the year. For the school-aged student classrooms, the initial planning process included scenarios for all virtual or all in-person classes. However, a few weeks […]
Advancing Economic Opportunities Through Local Partnerships
When Third Street Alliance went through its strategic planning process last year, agency leadership recognized economic advancement opportunities for women and families as a pillar of that plan and are now focused on putting those matters at the forefront of our work. We recognize that it will take a living wage to end homelessness and […]
Fighting Homelessness Before It Happens
The COVID-19 pandemic has affected us all in some way—from working and schooling at home and the addition of daily Zoom calls, to the constant worry about the health and well-being of our family, friends, and community. For many low-income residents in the Lehigh Valley, the pandemic has added another layer of instability, especially for […]
Navigating Life After Domestic Violence
*October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. Here’s a look at how Third Street Alliance helps those escaping or dealing with abusive relationships. It was two weeks before Christmas when Courtney came to Third Street Alliance. She had moved from Michigan to Pennsylvania, fleeing domestic violence from her partner, to live with a friend. Then her ex-partner found […]
Thank You for Making an Impact on My Heart
Traveling along life’s journey sometimes you know where you are going, and sometimes you get an unexpected adventure. It all depends on which exit you take. I am choosing the exit of retirement on Friday, April 24. It will be my last day with Third Street Alliance as director of development. But, before I leave, […]
In Memoriam: David Veshosky
David Veshosky was a quiet giant, tenacious and gracious in his drive to serve Third Street Alliance. In 19 years of volunteering here, he accomplished many goals whose momentum is felt today. David joined the board in 2001 and served as President from 2012-2014. Throughout his board service, he worked on the building committee and […]
Landlords Wanted in the Slate Belt
Do you own a rental property and would like to have good renters? Third Street Alliance can help you. New home construction and restoring old buildings into luxury apartments has been the big boom in the Lehigh Valley. For many families, this new housing trend represents a real challenge. For families who are struggling with […]
Moving Forward with an Inspiring Plan
Third Street Alliance continues to evolve and change in response to the shifting needs of our community and we continue to draw on evidence-based practices to help us meet those needs. This past year we engaged in a strategic planning process that brought together our board of directors, staff, community volunteers and clients to provide insight […]
Spreading the Message
When Tiffany was looking for a new place for child care eight years ago, she decided to enroll her oldest son in The Learning Center at Third Street Alliance. At the time she was grateful that it was close to her job and convenient. Now she is grateful for the education that her children, ages, […]
Thriving on Her Own
When Robin first realized she would have to live in a homeless shelter last fall, she had visions of bunk beds, foot lockers and 6:00 a.m. wake-up calls. “I had this whole vision of what a shelter looked like,” she said. “I was scared.” But once stepping into Third Street Alliance, those visions faded and […]
Lending A Helping Hand
When a call for volunteers goes out, Edie DeProfio is often the first to respond. Edie has been an active volunteer at Third Street Alliance for more than two and a half years and has contributed more than 150 volunteer hours in that time. A retired occupational therapist, Edie wanted to continue to work by […]
Journey To A Home
A year ago, Robin could only imagine what leaving Third Street Alliance would look like. At the time she was living here with her youngest daughter and high school-aged son. Robin’s older daughter was also receiving services through the shelter program. In the last few months, her son and older daughter have moved on from […]
Providing Supports for Mom and Son
Linda first noticed her middle son’s development was delayed when he started to speak and she couldn’t understand him. She would have him repeat himself multiple times and still have difficulty understanding him. He would often get frustrated and angry, and as a result, lash out instead of appropriately express his emotions. While Linda was […]
