Title
Authorizing the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to conduct hearings on the economic impact that homelessness has caused in the city and the possible implementation of a plan to eradicate homelessness in the City of Philadelphia in ten years.
Body
WHEREAS, Many homeless providers have always had the position that placing homeless people in shelters, while not the most desirable course, is at least the most inexpensive way of meeting basic needs. Unfortunately, the cost of homelessness can be quite high, particularly for those with chronic illnesses; and
WHEREAS, People who are homeless are more likely to access costly health care services. This council recognizes that homelessness both causes and results from serious health care issues, including addictive disorders. Treating homeless people for drug and alcohol related illnesses in less than optimal conditions is expensive; and
WHEREAS, People who are homeless spend more time in jail or prison -- sometimes for crimes such as loitering -- which is tremendously costly; and
WHEREAS, Emergency shelter is a costly alternative to permanent housing. While this council recognizes that it is sometimes necessary for short-term crises, it too often serves as long-term housing. The cost of an emergency shelter bed funded by HUD's Emergency Shelter Grants program is approximately $8,067 more than the average annual cost of a federal housing subsidy (Section 8 Housing Certificate); and
WHEREAS, Perhaps the most difficult cost to quantify is the loss of future productivity. Decreased health and more time spent in jails or prisons, means that homeless people have more obstacles to contributing to society through their work and creativity; and
WHEREAS, Homeless children also face barriers to education; and
WHEREAS, It has been the position of this and past administrations to implement plans to manage homelessness – not how to end it. By collecting much better data, and creating a planning process focused on outcomes, the City of Philadelphia could provide a much more effective mix of assistance. These steps require bringing together homeless assistance providers and mainstream State and local agencies and organizations whose clients become homeless; and
WHEREAS, The homeless assistance system ends homelessness for thousands of people every day, but others quickly fill their place. The people who become homeless are almost always clients of public systems such as mental health, health care, welfare and veteran's assistance. The flow of incentives must be reversed so that these systems help people with the most complex problems and prevent homeless episodes rather than shifting the cost of caring for these people to the homeless assistance system. As in many other social areas, investment in prevention holds the promise of saving money on expensive systems of remedial care; and
WHEREAS, People should be helped to exit homelessness as quickly as possible. For most families and single adults without disabilities, this step is best met through a housing first approach. This means getting people into transitional and permanent housing very quickly and linking them with services. People should not have to spend years in homeless systems, either in shelter or in transitional housing. For individuals facing long-term or chronic homelessness, and for many homeless people with significant disabilities this step is best achieved through permanent supportive housing (housing with services). This solution has resonated because it saves money by decreasing usage of institutions such as hospitals, mental health facilities, and correctional facilities, while ending homelessness for many who face the most daunting challenges to achieving housing stability and recovery; and
WHEREAS, Housing instability will continue until the supply of affordable housing is increased, despite any changes in systems created to prevent and abbreviate homelessness; now therefore
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless is authorized to conduct hearings on the economic impact that homelessness has caused in the city and the possible implementation of a plan to eradicate homelessness in the City of Philadelphia in ten years.
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