Administration: HOME initiative will prioritize eviction prevention and at least 3,000 units of supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness

During the Committee of the Whole hearing, Councilmember Jamie Gauthier and others asked administration leaders about homelessness and whether the HOME housing initiative would explicitly target people experiencing homelessness.

Cheryl Hill, director of the Office of Homeless Services, said the city can "end homelessness in Philadelphia and that is our intent," and described a review of OHS processes and services to make sure spending goes "to the right places to make sure it's serving the right people." Hill said OHS was engaging the Philadelphia Housing Authority and service providers and planned a community meeting to socialize a proof-of-concept approach.

Administration witnesses described supportive housing and homelessness-prevention programs as core to the HOME initiative. Crystal Yates Gail and Angela Brooks said the HOME plan lists prevention of housing instability and homelessness among its north stars and includes investments in eviction diversion, targeted financial assistance, transitional and permanent supportive housing, tenant-based rental assistance and rapid rehousing. Angela Brooks said the administration would "invest and expand" eviction diversion and rental assistance programs and noted her prior experience with supportive housing.

Gauthier pressed about a proposed $5,000,000 decrease in OHS Class 200 (contracts and leases). Sabrina Maynard, the budget director, said the administration was working with OHS and said "there was some funding they did not need that was recurring" and that staff would follow up with details. The administration also said that the OHS budget was not-cut in the larger context of HOME and other initiatives and that additional details would be provided to Council.

Council members raised the quality of shelter services, the point-in-time count, Code Blue investments and the need for integrated information-sharing among service providers. Hill and other witnesses said Code Blue investments and supportive housing pathways would be part of the coordinated effort and described efforts to prevent first-time shelter entries.

No formal vote was taken on OHS funding during the hearing. Council members asked for written follow-up on the $5,000,000 Class 200 reduction and for more detail on how HOME units would be allocated and delivered as supportive housing.