Budget Crisis: Homelessness Hurts All Of Us

Feb 11, 2009
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Our city's leaders have difficult decisions to make in the wake of an economic crisis of historic proportions. Just as the City's budget is suffering, so are the people and families who are most vulnerable to economic stress in our community. Further, if we are going to see an economic revival in Philadelphia, increased homelessness will only hinder that progress.

I am reaching out to you today because I know you can help us.

Consider this:

  • Under the Mayor’s proposals, anywhere from 500 to 1,500 homeless people will lose their beds in a Philadelphia shelter.
  • Since there are more than 300 people living on the street now, more will join them in being homeless if the Mayor’s proposals are accepted.
  • If the City accepts the proposed cuts, the City will only save up to a range of $3.2 million to $11 million in a $3.4 billion budget. The savings would be small, but the pain and suffering homeless women, men, and their children would be tremendous to endure.
  • According to The Philadelphia Foundation’s recent report, even within this hard-hit region, Philadelphia faces an exceptionally dire economic situation. Without support for essential services, the city’s social climate and economy will likely suffer tremendous losses.
  • In addition, the proposed cuts in funding for homelessness services and prevention mean that more money will be spent in other human service systems (inpatient hospital stays, psychiatric hospitals, community mental health facilities, emergency room visits, etc.). Dennis Culhane’s research shows that it costs less to keep a person housed than to allow him/her to continue to be homeless.
  • Every year, the Homeless system helps more than 15,000 individuals, including:
    1. Men and women get back into the workforce to contribute as taxpaying citizens.
    2. Children receive health care.
    3. Women free themselves of abusive partners.
    4. Children receive behavioral health services that help them grow up healthy.
    5. Young adults who were abused in the foster care system get the help they need to become contributing and hard-working citizens.
    6. People with mental illness require significantly fewer services.
  • These cuts threaten the viability of providers who leverage money from outside sources that might not otherwise be available to the City and its citizens.

YOU CAN HELP STOP CUTS TO HOUSING AND SERVICES

1-PASS IT ON

Send this e-mail to your friends, family, colleagues, and the media. Everyone is affected by homelessness: health care providers, businesses, civic associations, churches, libraries, emergency services.

2-CALL OR EMAIL MAYOR NUTTER TODAY

at 215-686-2181 or michael.nutter@phila.gov (you can just cut and paste into an email, if you want)

Dear Mayor Nutter,
Homelessness hurts all of us. Please do not make cuts to housing and services that support our city’s most vulnerable people. Essential services are essential.

3-SEND A POSTCARD TO THE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL

Print these postcards here and urge your friends and families to sign on to our effort. Please bring completed cards to Project H.O.M.E. at 1515 Fairmount Ave by March 4th and we will distribute them to the Mayor and City Council Members at a future event.

4-ATTEND A BUDGET FORUM

We urge Vote for Homes! members and allies to attend one of the four upcoming budget work sessions to communicate that essential services are essential and that we cannot cut housing and services that support our city’s most vulnerable citizens. See http://www.phila.gov/budgetUpdate/engage.html for more details.