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
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:
- Call the Homelessness Prevention InfoLine and follow the instructions.
- Visit a City-funded intake center.
Connect
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1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
10th Floor Philadelphia, PA 19102 |
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ohs |
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(215) 232-1984
help a person on the street
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Announcements
Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program Funds Available
Philadelphia County has been awarded $603,418 in federal funding by the Department of Homeland Security/Federal Emergency Management Agency’s Emergency Food and Shelter National Board Program (EFSP). The funds will be used to supplement emergency food and shelter programs in the county.
The EFSP Local Board is responsible for recommending which agencies should receive these funds. Eligible local agencies must:
1) be private voluntary nonprofits or units of government
2) be eligible to receive Federal funds
3) have an accounting system
4) practice nondiscrimination
5) have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs.
The Local Board must consider its reduced grant funding as it makes its recommendations and asks applicants to adjust their requests accordingly.
The EFSP Local Board invites qualified local nonprofit agencies to review the EFSP Phase 42 Request for Proposals and apply for funding online by noon February 28, 2025.
Visit the EFSP website or contact Administrator Patricia Smith, patricia.r.smith@phila.gov, for additional information.
While the Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services (OHS) administers EFSP in Philadelphia, EFSP is not an OHS program.
OHS Declares Code Blue, Sunday, Jan. 19
Because of expected frigid temperatures and other wintery conditions, the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has declared a Code Blue starting Sunday, January 19, at 3 p.m.
What happens next
When the Code Blue goes into effect, the City will send out more outreach teams to find and encourage people who are living or sleeping on the street to accept a ride to one of 19 warming centers that will be open throughout Philadelphia.
Who can go to a warming center
Anyone is welcome to enter a warming center, whether someone is experiencing homelessness, or a power outage and heat loss in their home.
How to find and access a warming center
Use this interactive map to find a warming center. Anyone may enter one on their own or call Outreach at (215) 232-1984 if they need transportation.
