City Aims to Eradicate Homelessness Within Ten Years

Last week Mayor John Street announced a ten year, $10 million plan to eradicate homelessness in the City of Brotherly Love. The $10 million for the project is already accounted for, having been earmarked from city, state and federal funds. There's a plan, devised by city officials meeting with homeless advocates and other experts.

It's a huge undertaking, but one that Phillyist feels is incredibly important for the future of our city. But can it be done? Robert Hess, a city deputy managing director, says yes; however, Mayor Street admits that the problem of homelessness will never really be completely solved because the problem is "too complex".

Mayor Street estimates that there are at least 400 homeless in the downtown area alone, although citywide there are estimated to be 25,000 homeless people. He calls ending homelessness a "moral and legal obligation", a sentiment likely echoed by those that protested our cities efforts to house Hurricane Katrina survivors, saying that city officials were ignoring Philadelphia's poor. Understanding that there will always be homeless people in Philadelphia, Mayor Street says the plan could reduce the homeless population to an "insignificant number."

The plan involves adding approximately 600 new subsidized housing units for the homeless, as well as 100 emergency beds for the chronically homeless. Better coordination of and expansion of existing services will round out the endeavor. Specifics of the plan will be announced over the next couple of months.

The cynic in us wonders if the announcement of this plan has anything to do with the possible bid to bring the 2016 Olympics to Philly. Either way, we're thrilled that the city is getting serious about helping the homeless.

If you're looking for a way to get involved and hear more about the plan from one of the agencies involved, you might be interested in checking out the inaugural Young Friends of Project H.O.M.E. event next Thursday night at the University of the Arts.