Title
Authorizing the Special Committee on Kensington to hold hearings on the intersection of homelessness and substance use disorder (SUD) in communities with both unstable housing and addiction
Body
WHEREAS, In Pennsylvania, 12,556 people experience homelessness, with individuals needing more shelter than beds available, 610 shelter beds were empty despite the need, and 1,713 individuals slept outside even though some shelter beds were not in use; and
WHEREAS, According to the National Health Care for Homeless Council, individuals without stable housing are more likely to suffer from chronic illness, mental health disorders, and substance use disorder (SUD) compared to the general population; and
WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, the Kensington neighborhood has become the epicenter of Philadelphia's opioid crisis, plagued by open-air drug markets and encampments, and continues to experience the compounded challenges of SUD and a severe lack of affordable and stable housing; and
WHEREAS, The pervasiveness of Open-Air Drug markets and encampments continuously exposes residents to environments that trigger substance abuse and pose significant health and safety risks, with reports finding 80 such markets within a 1.9-mile stretch of the neighborhood; and
WHEREAS, The crisis in Kensington demands a coordinated housing and public health response. While many residents struggle with addiction, others experience housing instability due to economic hardship and the lack of affordable housing options, where transitional housing serves as an essential step in the road to recovery and long-term stability; and
WHEREAS, The demand for affordable housing in Kensington far exceeds the amount available, while Pennsylvania is estimated to have a shortage of approximately 267,000 affordable housing units for extremely low-income renters, and for every 100 extremely low-income renters only 38 affordable units are available; and
WHEREAS, Systemic issues have kindled a deep mistrus...
Click here for full text