Recognizing and honoring the City of Philadelphia workers and partners for saving lives through their steadfast work and dedicated public service as part of the Office of Homeless Services' 2018-2019 Winter Initiative and Managing Director's Office Encampment Resolution Pilot program.

WHEREAS, America is now decades into its nationwide homelessness crisis and the gap between rich and poor continues to widen; and

WHEREAS, Philadelphia has the lowest rate of street homelessness of any major U.S. City but simultaneously the highest rate of poverty; and

WHEREAS, The opioid crisis has put American cities under extreme pressure and strain to save lives and protect communities; and

WHEREAS, Despite all these pressures, City workers and partners provided critical homeless outreach and shelter services to save lives throughout the winter of 2019, making over 3200 outreach contacts, over 1000 van transports during 40 Code Blue nights from November 2018 to March 2019; and

WHEREAS, Along with the Winter Initiative, City workers and partners also closed four major opioid-driven homeless encampments in the Kensington/Fairhill neighborhoods; and

WHEREAS, By working across City departments, cooperative, and collaborating, City agencies and workers were able to permanently and compassionately close these encampments improving the quality of life for the neighborhood and providing help to the most vulnerable; and

WHEREAS, The initiative was so successful that independent researchers praised its innovative approach and the City’s efforts are now inspiring similar models across the nation; and

WHEREAS, Staff worked overtime, on weekends, and overnights, making personal sacrifices in both time and emotion, consistently providing exceptional, professional, efficient, and compassionate work to Philadelphia’s most vulnerable; now, therefore, be it

THAT THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby recognizes and honors the City of Philadelphia workers and partners for saving lives through their steadfast work and dedicated public service as part of the Office of Homeless Services’ 2018-2019 Winter Initiative and Managing Director’s Office Encampment Resolution Pilot program.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the Managing Director’s Office as a testament of the sincere sentiments of this legislative body.

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