Demand for homeless shelter services remains high
The economy is still struggling in the Philadelphia area. This is leading more people to turn for help.
The economy is still struggling in the Philadelphia area. This is leading more people to turn for help.
Sister Mary Scullion is head of Project H.O.M.E. The group’s mission is to help people break the cycle of homelessness. Scullion says the difficult economy has brought more people to Project H.O.M.E.’s door.
“More and more people are in need and struggling to make it for rent for utilities for food for medical costs.”
Sister Mary says homelessness is a delayed reaction because most people fight it tooth and nail.
“People rely on their family and friends, they have a safety net, a little nestegg, but once those supports diminish that’s when people become homeless, it’s not just something that happens to someone overnight.”
Philadelphia City Controller Alan Butkovitz says Philadelphia’s poverty rate is 25 percent Only Detroit is higher among major cities with 36 percent of residents in poverty.
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