Mayor Kenney and City Officials Provide Update on the Philadelphia Resilience Project, the City’s Emergency Response to Combat the Opioid Crisis
PHILADELPHIA – Today, Mayor Kenney and other City officials provided an update on the City of Philadelphia’s emergency response to combat the opioid epidemic. The update comes after representatives of 35 City departments, offices, and agencies convened daily for the past two weeks at the City’s Emergency Operations Center, working to carry out the directives outlined in Mayor Kenney’s Opioid Emergency Response Executive Order 3-18.
“We’re calling this effort the Philadelphia Resilience Project because Philadelphia has always been a resilient city, willing to do whatever it takes to overcome the challenges we face,” said Mayor Kenney. “Our city is now facing a crisis unlike anything we’ve seen before. But I’m confident that this effort will allow us to come together, try new approaches, and demonstrate that resilience to improve these communities — and save lives.”
Tumar Alexander, Director of Legislative and Governmental Affairs for the Managing Director’s Office, will lead day-to-day operations. He shared the following mission areas and goals that have been established:
Mission Area 1: Clear Encampments (led by Office of Homeless Services)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Clear Frankford Avenue encampment by November 15
- Prevent formation of new encampments on all vacant properties near the Frankford Ave encampment
Short-term (by December 31, 2018)
- Begin outreach to clear Emerald Street Encampment by January 15
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Develop strategy with stakeholders to prevent encampments from relocating or reforming
Mission Area 2: Reduce Criminal Activity (led by the Managing Director’s Office of Criminal Justice and Public Safety)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Increase safety measures for children using foot and bike patrols, and daily school checks
- Create and strengthen existing Safe Corridor routes for travel to and from school
- Implement Police Assisted Diversion (PAD) program in East Police Division
Short-term (by December 31, 2018)
- Enhance federal and state partnerships to address narcotic supply and distribution
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Create and strengthen safe mass transit corridors
Mission Area 3: Reduce Unsheltered Population (led by the Office of Homeless Services)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Identify temporary site for 24 hr. Navigation Center including respite and wrap-around social services
Short-term (by December 31, 2018)
- Explore intermediate housing inspired by Seattle’s use of Tiny Houses
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Examine affordable housing strategies that include family reunification and employment assistance
Mission Area 4: Reduce Trash and Litter (led by the Community Life Improvement Program)
Immediate (by November 16)
- Conduct large scale clean up along Kensington Ave on Friday, November 2
- Place disposal containers at McPherson Square and targeted SEPTA stations
- Provide a temporary dumpster to support Frankford Ave encampment closure
- Recruit volunteers with lived experience to assist with regular cleaning
- Use bicycles for mobile collection of discarded syringes
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Pilot mechanical street cleaning on major arteries in Kensington area
Mission Area 5: Reduce Overdoses (led by the Philadelphia Department of Public Health)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Prevent transmission of HIV and Hepatitis by screening, vaccinating, and linking to medical care
Short-term (by December 31, 2018)
- Increase distribution of naloxone (Narcan) and related training
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Implement opioid fatality review process
Mission Area 6: Increase Medication Assisted Treatment (led by the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Disseminate information on all treatment capacity access
- Deploy mobile outreach team including medical professionals to provide Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT)
Short-term (by December 31, 2018)
- Expand warm hand-offs between emergency departments and treatment options
Mission Area 7: Mobilize Community Response (led by the Managing Director’s Office of Community Services)
Immediate (by November 16, 2018)
- Create community calendar to encourage neighborhood engagement by highlighting programming across all mission areas
- Identify potential funding partners
- Create and train Philly311 unit for specialized Kensington/Fairhill information and assignments
Long-term (by June 30, 2019)
- Build strategies for citywide awareness and engagement around opioid issue
In 2017, 1,200 Philadelphians died from drug overdoses. More than 7,000 other overdoses in 2017 were reversed by Philadelphia Fire Department, Police Department and SEPTA Police. Community organizations and residents reversed many other overdoses.
In summer of 2017, about 900 unsheltered people were living in Philadelphia, 400 of whom were living on the streets of these neighborhoods. A year later in 2018, the number ballooned, with about 1400 unsheltered people living in Philadelphia, 700 in Kensington and Fairhill alone.
Councilwoman Maria Quiñones-Sánchez said, “I appreciate the Mayor’s work to prioritize this crisis, and will continue working with our partners to create better pathways to treatment and relief for those suffering from addiction as well as long-term restorative investment in the community.”
“I am pleased that the Administration, City Council and the community groups are working together address the opioid crisis plaguing our City,” said Councilman Mark Squilla. “We need this collaborative, multi-agency approach to attack this issue on a daily basis and cannot stop until it is under control. I am hopeful that these joint efforts will aid the addicted people living on our streets, as well as improve the quality of life for the residents living in the communities that have been negatively impacted by this epidemic.”
A more detailed description of the goals is available HERE, and photos from the activation are available here: PHOTO 1, PHOTO 2, PHOTO 3. (Credit: City of Philadelphia)
