WHEREAS, Philadelphia's public rights-of-way, including sidewalks, pedestrian corridors, and public seating areas, are essential shared spaces that must remain safe, accessible, and available to all residents and visitors; and
WHEREAS, Individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness often rely upon these public spaces for refuge, underscoring the need for coordinated responses that preserve public accessibility while respecting the dignity, safety, and well-being of vulnerable populations; and
WHEREAS, The City of Philadelphia, through the Office of Homeless Services and its partnerships with other City agencies and community organizations, invests significant resources in street outreach, emergency shelter, housing assistance, and supportive services intended to address homelessness and promote long-term housing stability; and
WHEREAS, Charitable groups and other third-party providers offer valuable supplemental assistance to individuals experiencing homelessness, often within public rights-of-way, warranting examination of how the City can better coordinate and support these services while preserving the safe and unobstructed use of public spaces; and
WHEREAS, The continued prevalence of unsheltered homelessness in public rights-of-way necessitates further examination of how City resources are deployed, how agencies coordinate their efforts, and what barriers may prevent individuals from accessing appropriate services and achieving stable housing; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That it hereby authorizes the Committees on Streets and Services and Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless to hold joint hearings to investigate the prevalence of unsheltered homelessness in public rights-of-way, examine the City's coordination and utilization of resources to connect individuals with appropriate housing, shelter, and supportive services, and identify opportunities to improve the effectiveness of these efforts.
End