Mission and Impact

The mission of the Willow Foundation’s Heartwood Center is to strengthen and support the Greater Hazleton Area by providing a day shelter/resource hub for individuals and families experiencing or at risk of homelessness and/or food insecurity while advocating for locally driven, collaborative solutions to end homelessness.

Willow Foundation was established in 2021 by the cofounders of New Roots, Inc.

As of early 2024, Willow Foundation’s Heartwood Center had 1,261 contacts with individuals experiencing homelessness and provided 1,827 meals.

The Center also provides community-driven harm reduction support services for individuals actively experiencing substance use. in many instances, substance abuse is the result of the stress of homelessness, rather than the precursor to homelessness.