Resolution 190919

..Title Proclaiming November 16-24, 2019, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Philadelphia and honoring organizations, advocates, and City workers for their work supporting Philadelphia's most vulnerable. ..Body WHEREAS, Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week is recognized nationally every November; and WHEREAS, About one in five Philadelphians face hunger or food insecurity; and WHEREAS, The Office of Homeless Services' Food Access Unit works with dozens of meal sites and organizations providing over one million nutritious meals to those experiencing hunger every year; and WHEREAS, Every year the Office of Homeless Services works with over 60 providers and organizations helping over 11,000 people who are facing a housing crisis and another 5,000 through permanent housing programs; and WHEREAS, Despite having the highest rate of poverty of any major U.S. City, Philadelphia also has the lowest rate of street homelessness; and WHEREAS, In the face of federal cuts over several decades to affordable housing and homelessness programs, Philadelphia taxpayers have stepped in to help our City's most vulnerable by providing local support of these vital programs; and WHEREAS, Last year alone, the Office of Homeless Services was able to assist 1300 families avoid homelessness through prevention programs; and WHEREAS, Since 2016, the Office of Homeless Services has added 400 permanent supportive housing units so that those with serious disabilities can move off the street or out of shelter and into a home; and WHEREAS, While Philadelphia still needs about 2500 more affordable units at an additional cost of $25 million annually to effectively end chronic street homelessness in the City, workers and advocates leverage what resources they do have to nonetheless make Philadelphia's system one of the best in the nation; and WHEREAS, Over the next week across Philadelphia, organizations and advocates both in and out of City government are holding events and providing information to educate and inform Philadelphia's 1.5 million residents about the issues of hunger and homelessness; now, therefore be it RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, Hereby proclaims November 16-24, 2019, as National Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week in Philadelphia, and we honor the work of all those striving to ensure that every Philadelphian has access to nutritious meals and every Philadelphian has a place to call home. FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to representatives of the Office of Homeless Services as a sincere expression of the Council of the City of Philadelphia's gratitude, admiration and recognition. ..End