Title
Authorizing and directing the Department of Human Services, or such other office as the Mayor may designate, to provide emergency shelter to all homeless persons in the City, along with social, medical, and educational services designed to enable such persons to acquire and retain permanent housing; all under certain terms and conditions.
Body
THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA HEREBY ORDAINS:
SECTION 1. Title 6 of The Philadelphia Code, entitled "Health Code" is hereby amended to add a new Chapter 6-900 entitled "Services to Homeless Persons," to read as follows:
CHAPTER 6-900. SERVICES TO HOMELESS PERSONS.
§6-901. Definitions. In this Chapter the following definitions shall apply:
(1) Department. The Department of Human Services, or such other Department, Office, Board or Commission that the Mayor may from time to time designate to operate the program set forth in this Chapter.
(2) Homeless Person. A person who has no residence in which he or she is legally entitled to reside, or who has a reasonable fear for his or her physical or emotional safety upon return to his or her place of legal residence.
(3) Emergency Shelter. A structure for temporarily housing Homeless Persons that provides security against the elements, and is managed in a way that keeps its living quarters clean, safe, sanitary and otherwise fit for human habitation.
§6-902. Department Shelter System. The Department of Human Services, or such other office as the Mayor may designate, shall provide for the establishment, operation and maintenance of Emergency Shelters in sufficient numbers to provide appropriate temporary shelter against the elements for all Homeless Persons in Philadelphia.
§6-903. Availability of Shelter. An individual shall be offered a space in an Emergency Shelter upon his or her statement that he or she is a Homeless Person in need of Emergency Shelter. Parents and their children shall be assigned to Emergency Shelt...
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