Hub of Hope Outcomes Report | 2016

The Hub of Hope was a walk-in engagement center run by Project HOME located in the concourses under Two Penn Center in Philadelphia. It provided social and health services from January through April 2016 to individuals experiencing chronic homelessness who lived in Center City. Below is the summary from the full 2016 outcomes report.

Goals of the Hub of Hope

• Transition people experiencing homelessness into permanent housing
• Provide low-barrier access to centralized co-located physical and behavioral healthcare and connectpeople to ongoing primary care
• Deepen our understanding of strategic and effective tools and methods to end homelessness

Accomplishments

• 9165 visits to the Hub from 1712 unique individuals. 1332 people were new to the program in 2016
• 12,000+ cups of coffee, tea, water, or hot chocolate served by 60 volunteers
• 445 people sat down with a case manager; 218 of whom had histories of long-term homelessness orother vulnerability indicators
• 143 clinic visits with 108 unique individuals
• 122 clinical assessments and forms completed for housing, services, and benefits
• 183 people placed into shelter, treatment, and other housing options around the City (109 of theseindividuals were deemed long-term homeless/fragile)
• 270 total placements made – 183 initial placements and 87 follow-up placements (170 totalplacements of long-term homeless/fragile individuals – 109 initial and 61 follow up placements)
• Invited an evolving population of participants, many of whom are in recovery, actively addicted,mentally ill or vulnerable, and increasing numbers of young adults
• Engaged individuals on the margins of care during a “treatable moment.” Provided possibility for consistent follow up
• Connected and reconnected difficult-to-locate individuals with supports around the City
• Provided increased psychiatric resources with partnership among supervising psychiatrists and psychiatric nurse practitioners, allowing for expanded ability for housing and services assessments
• High level of engagement from multiple professionals, volunteers, and partners
• Nurtured a sense of community and hope among participants, volunteers, staff, and neighbors through creating a local coffee shop with “regulars.” People were able to be human across many lines of difference, and, to joke, relax, work, inspire, check-in with and track one another

Lessons Learned

• A central location promoted initial access and our ability to strengthen existing support systems
• The storefront model allowed participants to build a relationship with a place and talk to a provider when they were ready for services, maximizing efficiency and successful service connections
• A warm, hopeful atmosphere inspired and uplifted everyone involved
• Integrated housing and healthcare services were essential partners in preventing, responding to, and ending homelessness
• The partnership with Arch Street United Methodist Church and Student-Run Emergency Housing Unit of Philadelphia (SREHUP) was key in providing short-term respite options for vulnerable men
• Large crowds gathered in the concourse in the morning hours when individuals who utilized temporary winter beds with early dismissals had nowhere to go, especially in inclement weather
• Keeping a controlled and orderly flow of people in and out of the space was essential in maintaining the safety of everyone involved
• Strength of collaboration with Philadelphia Outreach teams, SEPTA police, City departments, and providers to collaborate, assess, engage, plan, and follow-up with individuals living in and around the concourse made for a strong project

Action Steps

• Strategically target efforts of Philadelphia Outreach teams to collaborate and assess, engage, plan,and follow-up with individuals living in and around the concourse
• Enhance onsite drug and alcohol recovery counselors and linkages to treatment at future Hub of Hope projects
• Enhance partnerships with young adult service providers to engage increasing numbers of young adults
• Explore creative ways to provide consolidated social and health services to people experiencing homelessness in centralized locations
• Increase emergency housing options for women