Two out of every three homeless persons in Pennsylvania
are located in Philadelphia. Over the course of a year, it is estimated that
there are 35,000 episodes of homelessness in this city.
Philadelphia's homeless are overwhelmingly young, minority, and male.
Specifically, they are 63% male, 88% minority, and 67% between the
ages of 18 and 45 - as opposed to the city's general population, which
is only 46% male, 42% minority, and 41% between 18 and 45.
Less than 2 out of every 10 Philadelphians are young black males. In
contrast, close to 6 out of every 10 homeless Philadelphians are young
black men.
(From Homelessness in Philadelphia: Roots, Realities and Resolutions,a report by the Philadelphia Committee for the Homeless
(PCH) and Temple University's Institute for Public Policy Studies.)
Members of S.H.I.P. help the homeless in Center City,
Philadelphia by addressing some of their immediate needs -- we provide food
and blankets and try to build relationships with some of them.
If YOU are interested in helping the homeless read on ...
SHIP members will be taking trips to Philadelphia on Saturday and Sunday
mornings (from 7 to 9 a.m.) There will be a driver and two accompanying
volunteers on each trip and they will drive around Center City (between 21st
St. and 11th St., and Market East St. and Pine St.) to look for homeless
people. Having located them, the driver will park as close to the homeless
people as possible, without intimidating them, and stay in the running car.
The two volunteers will carefully approach the homeless person/people and ask
them if they would like to have some coffee, food (sandwiches, dessert,
potato chips and cookies) and/or blankets. If the street person/people are
responsive, the volunteers will stay and talk to them. Due precautions will
be taken. If you are interested in taking part, please contact one of our
directors (see the main page) and sign your name onto
an open slot on our bulletin board at the west end of Parrish.