The city of Philadelphia has gathered an experienced, knowledgeable, and committed group to achieve the goals outlined in the Ten Year Plan. Joye Presson, Program Director with the Office of Supportive Housing how the complicated process to achieve those goals is working.

The plan seeks to open the back door out of homelessness by maintaining an available stock of affordable housing options, and close the front door to homelessness with successful prevention strategies such as medical care, dental care, mental health services, family and youth programs, and assistance with utilities and delinquent mortgages. “The eight goals are centered on prevention, outreach, housing, shelter, and employment,” said Presson.

Another important objective is educating the public about homelessness, to overcome biases about homelessness. Presson cited a common sight in Philadelphia, “When you see someone sleeping in a bench with all their belongings and the green trash bag, you will have a reaction. Either you will wish someone did something about this situation, or you will feel repulsion. But what people don’t know is that those are only about ten percent of the homeless population. What they don’t think is of the homeless families who live in shelters, for example.” Education about the realities of homelessness can help to unify the people of Philadelphia to work together to execute the Ten Year Plan.

The plan has encountered many challenges, though, some due to limited resources. “There is not enough availability of beds in a shelter on some nights, and the behavioral programs would need to be longer," Presson mentioned. Allocation of those limited resources is another challenge as well. Presson noted, “At some point, a decision has to be made about resources. Either they will have to get spread out, or concentrate on a particular proven area. For example, should you put your funds on affordable housing, or in prevention programs?”

The economic reality of life in Philadelphia presents another challenge. Presson says, “It seems right now that poverty won’t go anywhere. ...and the gap between income and expenses is becoming wider, which means that [low-income families] could be at risk of becoming homeless too.” “The emergency shelter has become the safety net for other issues,” Presson said. Which is why in the next months, two pilot programs will be implemented in the city. The programs will tackle behavioral and substance-abuse related issues, and they will be tailored to the shelter-resistant people who have cycled in and out shelters or who sleep in the street. With the help of providers and the Department of Behavioral Health these pilot programs will work to keep chronically homeless people off of the streets, permanently.

Although being behind the scenes and participating in the policy making process can be daunting at times, Presson believes that “We have great leadership and a great organization to help us put this all together. Now we need to move forward and ask ourselves why, when, and most important, by when.”