Title
Authorizing the joint City Council Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold public hearings to examine the benefits of having a more robust homeless prevention program in Philadelphia.
Body
WHEREAS, Many people are experiencing homelessness nationwide. Even though in 2014, an estimated 578,424 experienced homelessness nationally on a given night, and in 2015, approximately 1.5 million Americans utilized a homeless shelters, the total number of homeless people is likely higher than either of these estimates; and
WHEREAS, Many times statistics measuring homelessness do not reflect those who are housing-unstable and living doubled up with others. The true estimate of people in this country who experienced at least one episode of homelessness in one year may be as high as 3.5 million; and
WHEREAS, The developing housing landscape in Philadelphia has had far reaching consequences for low income residents. As the Philadelphia housing market continues to develop more and more low income housing is being replaced with market rate projects and the lack new development for low income housing has had and will continue to have serious consequences for low income Philadelphians. With approximately 26% of our residents living in poverty, and the growing cost of living many low income Philadelphians are being left behind, which will likely increase the risk of homelessness for many; and
WHEREAS, Homeless prevention programs are better able to address the number and complicated causes of homelessness and provide a more targeted and robust approached that is needed in order combat the issue; and
WHEREAS, Homeless prevention is less expensive and has shown to be effective in other American localities and countries including Germany and England. Homeless prevention aims to help those who may be in fear of losing their homes, it creates a system to keep individuals housed and thus preventing them from becoming homeless; an...
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