Despite the fact that the homeless street census has been up in the last two years, there is good news in the fight against homelessness.

Philly IMC has an article and flash video on "Grace Cafe" a new initiative that closed its doors for the summer this morning. What is so remarkable about Grace Cafe is that it was successful at getting many people off the streets who previously would not come in. Instead of a shelter, the cafe was a "drop-in center" in which a selected list of persons known to the city outreach teams could take refuge.

It is hoped that the cafe will start up again next october. See also Philly IMC's homeless resource page for more info.

The good news about the success of Grace Cafe is coupled with the unfortunate fact that many of the emergency shelter beds are being closed for the summer due to the end of the "Winter Initiative." Around 200 emergency shelter beds have been removed in the last week and many folks are back out on the street.