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Office of Homeless Services

Providing emergency housing and other services to people who are homeless and to those at risk of homelessness.

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Office of Homeless Services

Services

Prevent homelessness
Visit an intake center
Get help with domestic violence
Find free food and meals
Code Blue
Code Red

What we do

The Office of Homeless Services works with more than 60 homeless housing and service providers, as well as city, state, and federal governments. Together, we make up Philadelphia’s homeless service system.

This system provides homelessness prevention and diversion aid, as well as emergency and temporary housing, to people who are experiencing homelessness and those at risk of homelessness.

Get help

We’re responding to a high number of requests for homelessness prevention help. We’ve temporarily stopped processing new requests while we reply to existing ones. When we start accepting requests again, we’ll update the Homelessness Prevention InfoLine at (215) 686-7177. In the meantime, you can still get help if you’re facing homelessness.

Are you facing homelessness? Contact the Prevention, Diversion & Intake Unit to see if you qualify for help. There are two ways to get in touch with our intake social workers and case managers:

  1. Call the Homelessness Prevention InfoLine and follow the instructions.
  2. Visit a City-funded intake center.

Connect

Address
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email ohs@phila.gov
Phone: (215) 686-7175 ask a question
(215) 232-1984 help a person on the street
Social
Twitter

Announcements

Announcement

OHS declares Code Blue for this weekend

Due to a National Weather Service forecast of freezing temperatures, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has declared a Code Blue beginning Saturday, March 1, 2025, at 3 p.m. until  Monday, March 3, 2025, at 9 a.m.

How to get help

City after-hour intake centers will be open over the weekend.

Anyone who needs shelter may visit one or call (215) 232-1984 for help finding or getting to one during this Code Blue period.

Announced on: Office of Homeless Services

Posts

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Events

  • Feb
    28
    Event
    Kensington Service Connection/Site Clean-up Day
    All Day
    Multiple Kensington locations
    Event

    Kensington Service Connection/Site Clean-up Day

    February 28, 2025
    All Day
    Multiple Kensington locations
    map
    Service Connection/Site Clean-ups will occur today at these Kensington locations:

    • 823-841 E. Allegheny Avenue
    • Reach Street and Allegheny Avenue
    • 1800 E. Clearfield Street (both sides)
    • 1800 E. Orleans Street
    • Ruth Street and Hart Lane (corner)
    • 1800 E. Somerset Street (both sides)
    • 400 E. Somerset Street (both sides)
    • 2800 D Street
    • 2816-2828 Kensington Avenue
    • 2862-2871 Kensington Avenue
    • 1800 E. Harold Street Corner

    About Service Connection/Site Clean-up Days

    Office of Homeless Services Encampment Resolution Team (ERT) staff members join the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services’s (DBHIDS) Homeless Street Outreach Team (Outreach) and the City’s Sanitation Department to conduct *Service Connection/Site Clean-up Days. OHS’s ERT staff schedules and leads service connection clean-ups at various selected outdoor encampment locations in Philadelphia.

    How it Works

    The teams post signs in advance to alert people living in tents, RVs, makeshift shelters, or none at all, on sidewalks, under bridges,in parks, empty fields, lots, etc., of upcoming service days. Each service day,the teams visit the encampment sites to offer individuals services, such as rides to a City intake center where staff can help find shelter space, Stranded Traveler Assistance,behavioral health, drug or medical treatment, and other similar services. The Sanitation Department team further assists by cleaning up accumulated trash.

    * Service days are not the same as formal, encampment resolutions, which, while social services-led, involve many more City of Philadelphia departments and nonprofit partners and follow specific protocols regarding personal property storage, notification, and other requirements.

  • Mar
    4
    Event
    OHS & DBHIDs Present: Social Determinants of Health Resources Informational Session
    10:00 am to 12:00 pm
    Innovation Lab, 16th floor, Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    Event

    OHS & DBHIDs Present: Social Determinants of Health Resources Informational Session

    March 4, 2025
    10:00 am to 12:00 pm, 2 hours
    Innovation Lab, 16th floor, Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

    During this informative session, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) will provide an overview of resources to connect meal guests to the wide array of social services that are available throughout Philadelphia! 

    This event is primarily targeted toward meal providers, but non-food providers are welcome to join and network!

    Let us know you plan to attend. Learn more and reserve your free ticket(s) now!

    Questions? Contact foodaccess@phila.gov

  • Apr
    3
    Event
    OHS & DBHIDS Present: Mental Health First Aid Training
    10:00 am to 4:00 pm
    Innovation Lab, 16th floor, Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    Event

    OHS & DBHIDS Present: Mental Health First Aid Training

    April 3, 2025
    10:00 am to 4:00 pm, 6 hours
    Innovation Lab, 16th floor, Philadelphia Municipal Services Building, 1401 John F Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19102, USA
    map

    Mental Health First Aid Training

    Join the Office of Homeless Services and Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility at the Municipal Services Building in the Innovation Lab on the 16th floor to learn how to recognize and respond to a mental health crisis or problem such as anxiety, depression, psychosis, substance use disorder symptoms, and more.

    Requirement:

    Participants must complete two hours of virtual training before attending this free, in-person training on April 3. Those who complete the training will receive a three-year national certificate. 

    Learn more and reserve your spot today!


    Questions? Contact foodaccess@phila.gov

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Press Releases

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Programs

PEACE Program

Securing housing for older adults with histories of homelessness and complex physical or behavioral health needs.
Philadelphia rowhomes.

OHS Landlord Engagement Program

Connecting landlords with families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Landlord Gateway

Centralizing information for landlords to navigate the City’s property management resources.

Resources

OHS mailing list
Get information about success stories, events, and ways to get involved.
Volunteer at a meal site
Serving individuals and community members who are experiencing hunger and homelessness.
2022 annual report
A report on the Office of Homeless Services' efforts to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Philadelphia.
OHS flyers
These flyers provided by OHS contain information about various programs and how to get connected to services.

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