Philadelphia Anti-Violence Nonprofit NOMO Foundation Faces Collapse Amidst Financial Scandal and Housing Shutdown
Deep Search: The Crisis at NOMO
The NOMO Foundation (New Options, More Opportunities), a prominent Philadelphia anti-violence nonprofit, is teetering on the brink of implosion following a rapid expansion fueled by millions in public funding. An investigation has revealed that despite receiving over $6 million in taxpayer money since 2021, the organization has been forced to shut down its affordable housing initiative less than three years after its launch. The nonprofit is currently facing severe financial headwinds, including a federal tax lien from the IRS, multiple eviction filings, and lawsuits alleging hundreds of thousands of dollars in unpaid rent.
The collapse of the housing program has had immediate consequences. In December 2022, Executive Director Rickey Duncan made headlines by surprising a group of young women with new apartments. By late 2025, NOMO had surrendered the leases for those very units, displacing the vulnerable residents it aimed to serve. The rapid unraveling suggests a disconnect between the organization’s aggressive growth strategy and its operational sustainability.
Background: From Grant Winner to Fiscal Distress
Founded with a mission to provide early intervention and workforce development for at-risk youth, NOMO saw its profile rise significantly in recent years. In 2021, the organization secured a pivotal $1 million grant from the City of Philadelphia to provide after-school programming for young people affected by gun violence. Leveraging this initial success, NOMO expanded its operations quickly, launching the now-defunct low-income housing initiative and opening several youth centers across the city. The organization positioned itself as a key pillar in Philadelphia’s strategy to combat youth violence, absorbing significant municipal investment intended to stabilize communities.
Objections and Counterpoints
Despite the mounting financial and legal evidence, the organization and its supporters argue that the closure of services is a direct result of external funding inconsistencies rather than internal mismanagement. NOMO leadership has cited a “lack of funding” as the primary reason for terminating the apartment leases, implying that promised or expected resources did not materialize in time to sustain the program. Furthermore, the organization retains a base of support within the community; local officials and residents are reportedly mobilizing to fight the proposed closure of NOMO’s remaining facilities, arguing that the loss of its youth centers would be detrimental to the neighborhoods that rely on them for safety and support.
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