[NEWS] Groundbreaking for new homeless facility
From the Philadelphia Tribune:Â
For 25 years, David Brown had no place to call home.
“I used to be homeless and I was living on the street,” said Brown, now 60. “I refused to come in [off the street] because I thought Project HOME was like all the other homeless shelters that are taking advantage of the homeless.”
Five years ago Brown decided to turn to Project HOME (Housing, employment Opportunities, Medical care and Education), an organization that aims to strengthen adults, children and families in order to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty. He now lives in a studio apartment in James Widener Ray Homes, a permanent supportive housing development located at 2101 W. Venango St.
He also works at the HOME Spun Retail Boutique on Fairmount Avenue. The boutique provides jobs opportunities to those suffering from chronic homelessness and the income earned pays the wages of the Project HOME residents who work there.
“I couldn’t read or write and I never had a good education,” said Brown, who now can read on a third grade level and do math on a ninth grade level. “[Project HOME] gave me my dignity and self-respect. It’s rewarding for me.”
