PCEH - Who We Are

The Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness

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	History of PCEH
	Annual Report
	How to Contact Us
	Success Stories


>> Programs
	Advocacy and Community Education
	Prevention
	PCEH Day Center
	Street Outreach
	Research & Support
	Streets (newsletter)


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Who We Are

Services

Incorporated in 1982, the Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness (PCEH) has dedicated itself to reducing the number of homeless individuals in our city through combined prevention and intervention. Our funding comes only through private sources; we do not seek or accept public funds. PCEH receives 27% of its funding from individuals; 28% from foundations, faith organizations and schools; 17% from our annual art auction and 28% from holiday card sales. This approach to funding allows us the flexibility to design/alter programs to meet individual and systematic changes. PCEH works directly with people who are homeless and people who are at high risk of becoming homeless with an array of services and referrals that meet the client at their level of needs. Our services include the following:

Advocacy
Homelessness prevention
Day Center
Street Outreach
Community Education
Research and Support

Advocacy:
Historically, PCEH has been out front speaking on behalf of the forgotten population -- homeless single adult men. While the tragedy of homelessness affects every segment of the population, clearly homeless men receive the least public sympathy and consequently the smalled share of available resources. PCEH has worked diligently to meet the needs of this population. Our models for employment, training, housing and homelessnes prevention have been adopted by the public and private agencies. Furthermore, PCEH advocates the needs of the homeless to communities and all levels of government through our participaton on coalitions, committees and board memberships.

Homelessness prevention:
Homelessness prevention is a community based effort that provides services to people who are at risk of becoming homeless. The program was started in 1995 as result of state welfare cuts and seeks to address the needs of individuals and families who have lost their income. The goal of the program is to promote a return to self sufficiency by providing services that will help stabilize an individual or family's housing, while working with them to replace lost income through employment. The basic elements of prevention include community education and community based intake sites where intake, assessment, case management, budget counseling, rental assistance and job assistance are available.

Day center:
Homeless people seek help in the Day Center located at 802 North Broad Street where their basic needs for showers and clothing as well as guidance and support are provided. Clients can obtain access to mailbox service, free telephone service, counseling and referrals. Overall, what the clients say benefit them the most in the Day Center is the inspiration they receive after talking to members of the staff who were once homeless themselves.

Street outreach:
A team of staff and volunteers are on the street four nights and two days each week to serve the homeless street population. Members of the Street Outreach teams use their knowledge and understanding of the complex issues surrounding the street population's situations to develop relationships based upon trust. Once these relationships have been developed, the Outreach team works closely with these individuals to connect them with resources to begin the hard task of leaving the streets.

Community education:
Since its inception, PCEH has always seen community education as an important part of our work with homelessness. Clearly, we cannot adequately address the issue without important changes being made in the way people think about homelessness. Through commuity outreach, staff, board members and volunteers seek to dispel the myths and stereotypes that misrepresent homelessness. They seek to educate people about the causes of homelessness as well as emphasize the importance of collaboration as a means of working toward its elimination. Formerly homeless members of staff give dramatic testimony that homelessness is something that can be overcome. PCEH publishes and distributes its quarterly newsletter, "Streets" to over 5000 individuals and organizations.

Research and Support:
PCEH has been involved in producing extensive studies of homelessness in both the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and Philadelphia as well as ongoing analysis of current policies and practices. As a "watchdog", PCEH continuously seeks information from homeless people about what is happening (and not happening) to and for them. As well, through staff member participation in leadership of state and national homelessness organizations, we continuously look for new or better ideas.