Outreach and Engagement
In support of Philadelphia’s effort to reduce its homeless population, Horizon House operates three outreach teams who travel around the city to seek out and make connections with homeless men and women, many of whom are chronically homeless and have been resistant to treatment. Often these individuals have been dealing with issues such as mental illness, substance abuse, and/or alcohol abuse. Over the course of time, our outreach teams establish a relationship and build rapport with someone who is homeless, and we are able to get them to accept help and support. Once an individual accepts support, the team quickly facilitates access to a safe haven and/or emergency housing, treatment options, benefits, physical and behavioral health care, and housing.
During severe weather conditions, when the city calls a “Code Blue” for extreme cold and wind temperatures, our outreach teams engage individuals on the street with the goal of quickly moving them to emergency housing, a café, a “Winter Initiative” shelter location, or a medical facility if necessary. See our Homeless Outreach on NBC News. Teams collaborate with police and mental health delegates to implement Court Ordered Transportation to Shelter (COTS) and Involuntary Hospitalization (302) procedures to ensure that individuals do not remain on the street during extremes of weather.
Location: PA: Philadelphia County
Additional Information: Call the Outreach Coordination Center’s 24-hour hotline for more information or to report a concern about a homeless person, phone: 215-232-1984