Bumped up as a reminder that this is tomorrow. -Dan
Hello YPP Community:
As I write this members of the City outreach teams as well as concerned citizens are scouring the streets of Philadelphia.
These are the same streets we walk upon every day. The same streets that too many Philadelphians call home.
Tonight is the quarterly street homeless census. It is not a time for engaging or assisting but for counting.
The last street census counted 550 persons. 550 fathers and mothers, grandparents and children. That is twice the number of people that were out on the street in 2000. This is a crisis.
A crisis I am describing from the comfort of my own room.
As a white expensively-educated male I have a small window into this crisis. As a part-time outreach worker I have gotten to meet many of those out on the street. Many of those we walk past every day. Many of those we want to help but don't know how.
There are no simple answers. But I'd like to help spur some dialogue about this issue. If anyone has any questions about it I would be happy to answer them over email or on this forum.
Next week there will be a public forum about this crisis: Tues Nov 21st, at 7pm. Arch Street United Methodist Church (55 North Broad).
I would like to encourage everyone who reads this to come out and be a part of it. I know that there is a victory party at the same time. I am proposing that folks come out to the forum and then head over there with me afterward.
Good idea
I will go to both of them with you.
Good to see YIP focusing on things like this. Anecdotally, it seems pretty clear that the numbers of people sleeping on the street has been climbing. And, now, with the numbers you gave, it makes sense.
Also, although Aaron didn't talk about it, there is going to be a coat drive as well. He can give the details. I have a Minnesota tested parka all ready to go.
If you're interested
I'm on the board of the Philadelphia Committee to END Homelessness, and we're really proud of the progress of our Safe Home Philadelphia "housing first" approach. Learn more about us here, and I'm happy to answer questions.
Homeless Children
I just wanted to alert you to an organization in Pittsburgh that might be of interest to you as a resource. Homeless Children's Education Fund is a grassroots organization that started about 7 years ago to address the problem of more than 3,000 children who are homeless at any given time in Allegheny County. Most of these children are in shelters with their mothers or other family members, but frequently suffer from a break in their education for a variety of reasons. HCEF advocates to ensure that these children are given the same opportunities as other children to have access to a free public education. They provide school supplies, backpacks, etc. to the kids, advocate for homeless kids on all governmental levels, and have set up computer learning centers in many local shelters to ensure that the kid's living in the shelters have the tools they need to be on a level playing field with their classmates. Granted, HCEF has a very narrow focus - the education of homeless children, but they have a wealth of experience in the development of a grassroots organization and on the issue of homelessness. Just thought it might be a resource for you. They have a website at
www.homelessfund.org that you might want to check.
Not just on the streets
I'll be there too. It's cool to see YIP going in a new direction thanks to Aaron and Kate's leadership.
Aaron-beyond the 550 people on the streets, how many other homeless people are there in the city? The people who are moving from house to house of friends and family or in the shelter/transitional housing system?
Coat Drive
Here is the info on the coat drive:
A Happier Hour
What: Coat Drive & After-Work Social
Where: Irish Pub, 2007 Walnut Street
When: Wednesday November 29th from 5:30PM to 7:30PM
Help a fellow Philadelphian through the winter & network with other young people committed to ending homelessness. Bring new and gently worn coats and warm winter apparel to work with you on Wednesday November 29th and then to Irish Pub for “A Happier Hour.”
Your donation will support Project H.O.M.E.’s Outreach Team in their effort to help people living on the streets through the long winter. An Outreach Team will pick the coats up during Wednesday’s event to be distributed to people experiencing homelessness throughout our city.
Snacks & drink specials will be provided and the first twenty people to donate a coat get their first beer free! A clothing donation is not required, but a $5 contribution if you cannot donate clothing is greatly appreciated.
Please contact YIPSocial@Gmail.com if you have any questions.
PCEH Will be represented at the Forum
PCEH does great work. As an outreach worker I am often referring folks up to '802' (PCEH is at 802 North Broad Street) for services that no one else provides.
PCEH is also in a unique position to speak out about this issue because it does not rely on City funding.
Roosevelt Darby from PCEH will be one of the panelists at the forum.
On '550'
The 550 number comes from the last street census taken this summer.
This is only those spotted on the street during that census and only in and around Center City.
There are no census numbers for the entire City. There are no numbers for those staying in abandoned houses or structures without heat or otherwise unlivable.
I have heard some estimate that the total population is two to three times that 550.
I believe there are around 3,000 individuals staying in the City shelter system but will try and double check that number.
There isn't a number that I know of for the large number of people staying in private transitional and recovery houses.