Outreach Coordination Center
Creating Connections By Meeting Individuals Where They're At
The path to permanent, supportive housing is often long and complex. In many cases, it starts with a conversation on the street. That conversation creates a connection, which creates trust and rapport that gradually leads to acceptance and openness to seeking help.
The City’s 24/7 Street Outreach program is run by Project HOME and anchored in that personal connection. Project HOME’s Continuum of Care, our strategy to enable individuals to break the cycle of homelessness by providing housing and services, begins with street outreach.
Project HOME’s Outreach Coordination Center (OCC), in partnership with the City of Philadelphia and other service providers, coordinates outreach to people living on the streets of Philadelphia. A key component of those efforts is the Ambassadors of Hope program. The Ambassadors of Hope (AOH) connect people who are experiencing street homelessness in Center City to a variety of resources, including housing, shelter, and case management.
Ambassadors of Hope is a collaborative street outreach effort between Project HOME, Center City District, the Reading Terminal Market, and the Philadelphia Police Department, with support and guidance from the Outreach Coordination Center and the Department of Behavioral Health. Through the program, these agencies are fully coordinated and focused on the shared goal of ending street homelessness.
A Resource For The Entire City
Help is available for vulnerable Philadelphians experiencing homelessness, living in poverty, or in recovery. Anyone can help someone begin their journey home. If you see someone in Philadelphia experiencing homelessness who needs help, please call the 24-Hour Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.
Project HOME also publishes the Where to Turn Guide, a regularly updated list of resources for people experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia. Categories include:
- Emergency Housing
- Services
- Drop-in Centers, Meals, and Health Youth and Safety Services
- Benefits and Legal Services
- LGBTQ Services
Additional Information
If you see someone in Philadelphia experiencing homelessness who needs help, please call the 24-Hour Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984.
