In the early '80s the Reagan administration favored the idea of solving homelessness locally. Pressure mounted as Americans demanded that homeless issues be addressed by the federal government. As a result, on July 22, 1987, President Reagan signed the McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act into law. Since 1987, the McKinney-Vento Act has provided a range of services to local homeless shelters and programs throughout the City of Philadelphia.

More than 50 homeless shelters throughout Philadelphia benefit from McKinney-Vento grants through the School District of Philadelphia (SDP) Homeless Children’s Incentive (HCI). The SDP/HCI serves more than 10,000 students a year living in Philadelphia’s shelters. SDP/HCI collaborates with local agencies to provide services such as expedited enrollment for new students; financial assistance with SEPTA tokens, uniforms, school supplies, and graduation expenses; and tutoring and after school programs. The SDP/HCI also helps homeless children overcome the stigma of attending school while living at a shelter.

"Through it all, school is probably the only thing that has kept me going. School keeps me motivated to move on, and encourages me to find a better life for myself." – Carrie Arnold-LeTendre, SDP scholar

Teens outside of school can find help from the Covenant House Pennsylvania (CHPA). CHPA offers a continuum of programs for homeless young people who are under 21. A Crisis Center is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Once a teen is assessed in the Crisis Center, the young person can move into the Rights of Passage (ROP) program.

ROP is a unique program designed to help young people transition to independence by fostering a commitment to education and teaching valuable life skills. Located in a North Philadelphia row home, the eight-bed transitional housing program has a proven track record with an 85% success rate.

"Our main issue is the lack of beds. We serve about 500 kids annually through the Crisis Center, and yet we have only eight beds in our current ROP program. We see the connection that our youth make once they get into and work through the ROP, but we need more beds to serve more youth through that capacity." – Covenant House PA

A larger ROP facility is to be constructed on the 2600 block of Kensington Avenue, with the capacity to house 20 single youth and 7 young mothers. This new facility will allow ROP to provide a "safety net" for Philadelphia’s homeless youth.

"ROP has allowed me the space to grow and learn to live on my own. I have learned to find and keep a job, pay rent, balance my checkbook, and save money. Now, I have over $4,000 saved so that when I leave here, I will be able to stand on my own." – ROP Resident