Warming temperatures, slight chance of precipitation, and two basketball games this weekend — I forecast slightly-chilly, yet-invigorated drunken escapades.
But for some Philadelphia residents, warming temperatures mean a hell of a lot more than loosing the scarf before crossing Spruce Street. Warming temperatures mean a better chance of survival on the street.
When it’s cold outside, panhandlers are more successful on campus, Whether the cold weather invokes sympathy or Penn just continually represents a good target is unknown. But, luckily survival in the winter doesn’t rest solely on handouts from students. Protecting the truly homeless from the cold, well, that’s something Philadelphia is doing well.
I know what you’re thinking, we bloggers like to complain, complain, and complain. A blogger commenting on something Philly is doing right? Well, believe it, because I’m not the only one saying it.
“Philly does have some outstanding programs,” says Nell McGarity, media relations associate at the National Alliance to End Homelessness. “Columbus, Ohio is doing some really great things. New York City is making great progress. Innovative programs…Philly is up there.”
Penn School of Social Policy and Practice professor, Dr. Dennis Culhane, a nationally-renowned expert on homelessness, also gives props to the City of Brotherly Love.
“Philly has been pretty creative and a leader in developing supportive housing for people with mental illness and the street homeless. The city has invested a lot of resources in this area–very effective.”
And Penn’s helping out too. Dr. Dennis Culhane specifically mentioned “students participating in this University City soup kitchen meal program that rotates from church to church” and student groups combating homelessness. Nell McGarity called on students to work towards “measures that create more affordable housing. Then more people will not be homeless anymore.”
But just as with any issue, there is room for improvement. Philadelphia still doesn’t have homelessness programs specifically targeting youth aging out of foster care or people recently released from prison. These at-risk groups should be included in Philadelphia’s next 10-year plan against homelessness.
Philadelphia is on the right track. If this momentum continues, the plight of the homeless will diminish. But it’s up to us to keep the ball rolling. Students are not immune to working for justice — and warmth — for all who live in this fair city.
Guaranteeing shelter on a cold night, volunteering at a local soup kitchen, and working for housing affordability — I forecast a work-in-progress, yet true example of Brotherly Love.
Editor’s note: for installments I and II of ‘Homelessness and Hopeless,’ click here and here.
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February 12th, 2007 at 2:06 pm
I think the lack of comments for the “Homelessness and Hopelessness” series shows how much Penn students really care about the homeless. All the volunteer efforts are just for show.