WHEREAS, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness month is recognized nationally every November; and
WHEREAS, About one in five Philadelphians face hunger or food insecurity, which has been exacerbated by COVID-19; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Homeless Services’ Food Access Unit works with dozens of meal sites and organizations providing over two million nutritious meals to those experiencing hunger every year; and
WHEREAS, Every year the Office of Homeless Services works with over 60 providers and organizations to help over 19,900 people who are facing a housing crisis; and
WHEREAS, Currently Philadelphia has the highest rate of poverty of any major U.S. city, and the lowest number of people who are unsheltered among the major US cities, with anywhere between 700 and 800 people living on our streets at any given time; and
WHEREAS, In the face of federal cuts over several decades to affordable housing and unhoused service programs, Philadelphia taxpayers have stepped in to help our City’s most vulnerable by providing local support to these vital programs; and
WHEREAS, The Office of Homeless Services offers prevention, diversion, emergency, temporary shelter, and long-term housing programs to avoid and assist unhoused Philadelphians; and
WHEREAS, The National Low Income Housing Coalition cites the need for more than 260,000 more permanent supportive housing units to effectively end chronic street homelessness in the City and provide affordable rental homes for households earning less than 30% of the area median income in Pennsylvania; and
WHEREAS, During the month of November across Philadelphia, organizations and advocates both in and out of City government are holding events and providing information to educate and inform Philadelphia’s 1.5 million residents about the issues of hunger and homelessness including turkey drives and giveaways as well as winter clothing donations; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby proclaims November as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Month in Philadelphia, and honors organizations, advocates, and City workers for their work supporting Philadelphia’s most vulnerable.
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