Rise Beyond Barriers.
Build a Future.
Empowering individuals impacted by poverty, homelessness, LGBTQ+/TGNB+ discrimination, foster care transition, and reentry after incarceration through structured stability and community support.
A foundation rooted in dignity, built for measurable stability.
Unicorns Rising Independent Foundation was born from a personal conviction that stability is a civil right. Founded by Cassir M. Haskins in Philadelphia, URIF exists to walk with people through the transitions that most systems abandon: from shelter to housing, from crisis to career, from survival to independence.
Our work is deliberate. We coordinate emergency shelter, financial literacy, workforce development, and specialized support for foster youth, returning citizens, and the LGBTQ+/TGNB+ community. Every program is designed with the people it serves at the table, not as an afterthought.
Board governed with public annual reports and audited statements.
Every dollar tied to a measurable outcome and impact metric.
Lived-experience leadership guiding programs and priorities.
Seven programs. One unified pathway to independence.
01Night-by-Night Shelter
Emergency overnight protection with dignified, clean, structured stability for those in crisis.
02Housing Stability
Long-term placement, landlord partnerships, and rental navigation systems for sustainable independence.
03Financial Literacy Academy
Structured credit education, budget coaching, and generational wealth foundations.
04Workforce Development
Job positioning, career placement pipelines, and one-on-one interview mentorship.
05Foster Youth Transition
Comprehensive support systems for youth aging out of foster care into stable adulthood.
06Returning Citizen Support
Compassionate community reentry assistance following incarceration, without stigma.
07TGNB+/LGBTQ+ Navigation
Safe, dedicated crisis management, legal assistance, and affirming health advocacy.
Your contribution, translated into outcomes.
Every giving tier corresponds to a specific, measurable intervention. No overhead obscurity, no vague appeals. Choose the impact you want to fund.
Provides critical transportation assistance and transit passes for job interviews and appointments.
Sponsors comprehensive financial coaching and personal credit education modules for one participant.
Directly helps support critical emergency housing placement and multiple shelter nights of protection.
Corporate sponsors, churches, and student interns: stand with us.
Fund a program, host a drive, or offer a job pipeline. The scale of our impact is a direct function of the partners who commit early.
The admission desk. Everyone is welcome here.
Whether you need help, want to volunteer, or represent a partner organization, this is the single point of entry into the URIF network.
Direct lines to leadership. We answer every inquiry personally.
Philadelphia, PA
Crisis line answered 24/7
Safe · Confidential · Non Judgmental