After seeing the redesign plans for McPherson Square Park and Library, residents asked for more shade, and requested the library stay open during construction.
Backpack season is underway! We’ve got lots of places for you to scoop up new school supplies before classes start – plus a few opportunities to get wet and cool off on hot days.
McPherson Square Library, which has been closed since June 21st due to a broken air conditioning system, may reopen by next Tuesday in time for a meeting with the City of Philadelphia’s Rebuild program.
To jump down to the resources section, click here.
Policing in Philadelphia
Philadelphia residents are more concerned about public safety than they have been in a decade.
In a summer 2020 survey for The Pew Charitable Trusts, respondents listed “public safety” as the city’s top issue, with a little less than half of the 1,025 city residents surveyed saying they felt safe outside at night — at 49% this is the lowest figure Pew has recorded in over 10 years of polling.
Francis Healy, the special advisor to Philadelphia Police Commissioner Danielle Outlaw, said the police department has been tasked over the years with more responsibility due to police being available 24/7, and that some emergencies may be better addressed through a behavioral health approach, reported WHYY.
SEPTA police officers with the SAVE co-responder program work alongside behavioral health specialists to connect individuals to resources and treatment in Kensington. (Photo by Erin Blewett)
In October 2020, the city implemented a 911 Triage and Co-Responder Program to better identify and respond to behavioral health crisis calls. As part of the 911 Triage, behavioral specialists will work with 911 operators to determine the most appropriate response to crisis calls. For the co-responder program, police officers and behavioral health specialists work together to connect individuals experiencing behavioral health crises or issues related to substance use to treatment, while also responding to emergency response calls alongside the police.
In the East Police Division, which serves Fairhill, Harrowgate, and Kensington, the Police-Assisted Diversion (PAD) program and co-responder programs have offices at 707-711 E. Allegheny Ave. There, police officers, co-responders, and office staff connect people to behavioral health, substance use disorder, and housing services. Anyone can access those services at Kensington’s PAD Offices, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.
Anyone can access those services at Kensington’s PAD Offices, Monday to Friday from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m. (Photo by Erin Blewett)
Alternatives to 911 and traditional policing
Despite these new initiatives, calling the police may not always be the best option for certain emergencies. For example, when experiencing a situation that may benefit from a non-police approach, like a behavioral health crisis, cases of domestic abuse, resources for LGBTQ+ residents, and information for undocumented immigrants or people with limited English proficiency.
Kensington Voice’s sister publication, Germantown Info Hub, also released a resource guide for mental and behavioral health services, resources for communities experiencing trauma, and alternatives to calling 911.
If you are in immediate danger and feel safe calling 9-1-1, please do.
This list won’t be able to address every emergency situation that you may face but provides alternatives to requesting emergency help outside of the traditional emergency response system. This list also provides non-emergency resources to cover emergencies and issues that may not be addressed by police.
Know a resource we didn’t include? Send us an email at editors@kensingtonvoice.com or message us on social at @KensingtonVoice, and we’ll add it as soon as possible.
Philly 311 is required to provide you with free interpretation services, so if you need a language interpreter, you can request one after connecting to the operator.
Walk-in patients are advised to enter through the emergency department at 5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, Pa. 19141. According to the hospital’s website, patients should tell the security guard that they would like to be seen at the Crisis Response Center on the third floor.
BlackLine is a mental health support and counseling hotline geared toward Black, Brown, Native, Muslim, and Black LGBTQI communities. To learn more about BlackLine, go here.
This non-emergency hotline service provides referrals to treatment, counseling, and other mental health services. Community Behavioral Health is a division of DBHIDS. To learn more, go here.
The Hub of Hope, ran by Project HOME, offers services like free coffee, showers, laundry, referrals for case managers, housing services, and more. (Photo by Erin Blewett)
The Save Your Home Philly Hotline provides legal help with home mortgages, sheriff sales, tangled titles, or mediation scheduled through the Eviction Diversion program. Call 215-334-HOME (4663) Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Outside of these hours, callers can leave a message and get a call back from a PLA advocate
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services offers up to $400 to help an individual or family who is experiencing homelessness or is close to experiencing homelessness. The funds should be used to stop an eviction or foreclosure of your home or to find a long-term or short-term living space.
To apply, contact the Philadelphia County Assistance Office and ask what you need to do to apply for an Emergency Shelter Allowance.
Call 215-560-7226 or, if necessary, visit 801 Market St., #6, Philadelphia Pa., 19107
This unit from the Office of Homeless Services helps Philadelphians with an assessment to see if they qualify for homelessness prevention and diversion services such as emergency shelter or temporary housing; financial help with rent, move-in costs, and utilities; mediation, counseling, and problem-solving; and stranded traveler’s assistance.
There are three ways Philadelphians can get in touch with city intake social workers and case managers to discuss the emergency housing services listed above. Due to high volume, it may take 72 hours to receive a callback. Completing the online form or calling the Homeless Prevention hotline can be done at any time. Visiting a city-funded intake center in-person is only available during a center’s business hours, which are posted below and categorized by daytime and after hours.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) offers information and referrals to treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations in English and Spanish. The helpline is for people facing mental and/or substance use disorders.
Available to students and families in the School District of Philadelphia. Free mental health counseling, grieving support, emotional wellness, counseling for COVID-19 related losses, and dedicated service hours for LGBTQ+ youth and Spanish speakers.
Covenant House Philadelphia provides a 24/7 crisis shelter for youth ages 21 and under in the city. Young people can access consistent meals, counseling, a warm bed, medical care, workforce training, etc. at the crisis shelter.
For legal help with child custody, an abusive family home, or another family issue, call the Family Law Hotline, between 9:30 a.m. and 12 p.m., Monday through Thursday.
Pride Host Homes Program provides a safe, dedicated home for 1-6 months, as well as housing counseling, for LGBTQ+ youth ages 18-25 who are experiencing homelessness.
Call 215-925-3180
Visit 1500 Sansom St., Suite 300A, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
A center that provides opportunities for LGBTQ+ youth to develop into healthy, independent, civic-minded adults within a safe and supportive community and promotes the acceptance of LGBTQ+ youth in society.
Available to students and families in the School District of Philadelphia. Free mental health counseling, grieving support, emotional wellness, counseling for COVID-19 related losses, and dedicated service hours for LGBTQ+ youth.
A peer support phone service, for trans people by trans people, in emergency and non-emergency situations. When you call, you’ll be speaking with a trans/nonbinary peer operator.
Women Against Abuse provides a variety of services. Their 24/7 emergency safe havens for people of all gender identities and their children who are victims of domestic violence provide up to 90 days of shelter, counseling, case management, meals, and more.
100 S. Broad St., Suite 1341, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102
Provides adults, children, and teens who experienced sexual assault, human trafficking, or other types of trauma with referrals, mental health counseling, and more.
Call 215-701-1560
100 S. Broad Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, P.a. 19110
People in Philadelphia who are not U.S. citizens will not be denied medical care at City Health Centers or Federally Qualified Health Centers (see listings below).
Interpretation services are available at all City Health Centers.
To read more about people’s right to medical services in Philadelphia, click here.
Low-cost emergency and non-emergency health care are available to anyone at public hospitals and city health centers, regardless of citizenship status. Interpretation services are available at these locations. The city recommends you call a health center first before visiting to limit the number of people in waiting rooms during the coronavirus pandemic.
Federally Qualified Health Centers, such as community health centers and clinics, must provide care to uninsured people regardless of their immigration status. At community health clinics, patients can receive care for free, low-cost, or on a sliding scale based on their income.
To see a full list of Federally Qualified Health Centers in the city, click here.
Every person has the right to access city services and information in the language they need, regardless of residency or citizenship status. City agencies are required to offer translation services to anyone contacting their office. The city also provides interpretation over the phone, in person, and for documents.
In a non-emergency, call 311 and ask for an interpreter.
In an emergency:
Call 911
Tell the operator your location and the language you need.
The city advises not to hang up while waiting to be connected to an interpreter.
Editors: Zari Tarazona, Claire Wolters, Jillian Bauer-Reese / Designer: Henry Savage
Kensington Voice es una de las más de 20 organizaciones de noticias que producen Broke in Philly, un proyecto colaborativo de información sobre movilidad económica. The Toll: Las raíces y los costos de la violencia armada en Filadelfia, es una serie centrada en soluciones sobre la violencia armada que se extiende a lo largo de 2021. Lea más en brokeinphilly.org o siga en Twitter en @BrokeInPhilly.
The Norris Square Neighborhood Profile, released in July, explored rising housing costs and other shifts in the neighborhood. This resource list points residents to support.
For more than 80 years, health experts, scholars, and community advocates have emphasized the dire need for better access to physicians and health centers for Puerto Rican Philadelphians.
The new Pennsylvania Adult and Teen Challenge (PAATC) center is open Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., with plans to eventually offer nighttime hours.
