City of Philadelphia

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Office of Homeless Services

Providing emergency housing and other services to people who are homeless and to those at risk of homelessness.

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Office of Homeless Services

Services

Prevent homelessness
Find emergency and temporary shelter
Get help with domestic violence
Find free food and meals
Code Blue
Code Red

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

If you need help paying rent

You can apply for financial assistance to help pay for overdue rent or a security deposit to move into a new home. To learn how:

  1. Call the Homelessness Prevention InfoLine at (215) 686-7177 and follow the instructions; or
  2. Visit a City-funded homeless intake center.

If you still need help applying, email the OHS Prevention, Diversion, and Intake Unit at OHSPrevention@phila.gov.

If you’re living outdoors

If you are or see someone living outdoors, call the City’s Homeless Street Outreach Hotline at (215) 232-1984. The Outreach team can help you find or get to a City-funded homeless intake center. Anyone who needs shelter can visit the centers.

For all other questions, email us at OHS@phila.gov.

Connect

Address
1401 John F. Kennedy Blvd.
10th Floor
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Email ohs@phila.gov
Phone
Phone: (215) 686-7175 ask a question
(215) 232-1984 help a person on the street
Social
Twitter

Announcements

Announcement

SNAP benefits have changed: find the latest updates

The federal government has implemented new work requirements that impact how long certain SNAP recipients can receive benefits. Here’s what you need to know to protect your SNAP benefits.

Get help finding food

As of October 16, November SNAP (also known as food stamps) benefits will not be paid until the federal government releases funds to Pennsylvania.

  • Use the City of Philadelphia’s Food and Meal Finder to learn where to pick up free food and groceries, get ready-to-eat meals, and access social services.
  • Find more resources for SNAP recipients and community organizations in our blog post.

Beware of scams

The PA Department of Human Services is aware of scams targeting SNAP recipients, claiming that SNAP benefits will be delayed unless you provide your PIN. PA DHS will never contact you by phone or ask for your PIN or personal information.

 

Announced on: Managing Director’s Office, Office of Homeless Services, Office of Community Empowerment and Opportunity
Announcement

OHS seeks proposals for City-leased multipurpose shelter site operations

The Office of Homeless Services, in coordination with the Office of Emergency Management, is seeking proposals for the operation of a multi-purpose shelter site with a maximum of 92 beds.  The location will be provided by the City of Philadelphia.

Recommended pre-proposal meeting |

A virtual pre-proposal meeting will occur on Monday, November 3, 2025, at 9:30 a.m. Local Philadelphia Time.

 

Mandatory pre-proposal site visit |

A site visit will take place at 220 N. Broad St. on Tuesday, November 4 at 10 a.m. Philadelphia time. It is mandatory that a representative of the proposing agency participate in the site visit.

Organizations must pre-register for the pre-proposal site visit via this 220 N Broad Sign Up link.

 

Proposal application deadline |

No later than 5 p.m. Local Philadelphia Time on Tuesday, December 2, 2025.

 

RFP, application instructions, and pre-proposal meeting registration information |

Visit e-ContractPhilly to read RFP 21251015160338 in its entirety

 

Questions?

Direct any questions about RFP 21251015160338 to Diana H. Rivera, Contracts Administrator.

Announced on: Office of Homeless Services
Announcement

New! OHS RFP for Winter Initiative beds at current City-leased site

The Office of Homeless Services (OHS) has posted a new request for proposals for nonprofit or for-profit organizations that can provide and operate 150 beds within the period of December 1, 2025 (or later) through April 30th, 2026 (or later, funding permitted), in an existing City-leased location, 600 E. Luzerne St., Philadelphia, PA 19124 for its Winter Initiative. The initiative’s goal is to increase bed capacity during the winter months for people experiencing homelessness who sleep outdoors.

 

Application deadline

No later than 5 p.m. local Philadelphia time on Nov. 14, 2025.

 

How to apply

Read RFP #21251014142900 in its entirety and the application instructions.

 

Questions

Direct all questions about RFP 21251014142900 to Contracts Administrator, Diana H. Rivera.

Announced on: Office of Homeless Services

Posts

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Events

  • Oct
    31
    Event
    Kensington Service Connections/Site Clean-ups
    All Day
    Multiple Kensington locations
    Event

    Kensington Service Connections/Site Clean-ups

    October 31, 2025
    All Day
    Multiple Kensington locations
    map

    Service Connection/Site Clean-ups will occur today at these Kensington locations:

    • 709-711 E. Allegheny Avenue
    • Reach Street and Allegheny Avenue
    • 800 E. Allegheny Avenue (multiple locations on block)
    • 3100 N. Potter Street
    • 1800 E. Clearfield Street
    • 1800 E. Orleans Street (both sides)
    • 1800 E. Hagert Street
    • 1800 E. Somerset Street (multiple locations on block)
    • 400 E. Somerset Street  (both sides)
    • 2800 Kensington Avenue (multiple locations on block)
    • 2000 E. Sterner Street
    • 2000 E. Silver Street
    • 1800 - 1813 Hart Lane (both sides)

    About Service Connection/Site Clean-up Days 

    Office of Homeless Services Encampment Resolution Team (ERT) staff members join the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services’s (DBHIDS) Homeless Street Outreach Team (Outreach) and the City’s Sanitation Department to conduct *Service Connection/Site Clean-up Days. OHS’s ERT staff schedules and leads service connection clean-ups at various selected outdoor encampment locations in Philadelphia. 

    How it Works 

    The teams post signs in advance to alert people living in tents, RVs, makeshift shelters, or none at all, on sidewalks, under bridges, in parks, empty fields, lots, etc., of upcoming service days. Each service day, the teams visit the encampment sites to offer individuals services, such as rides to a City intake center where staff can help find shelter space, Stranded Traveler Assistance, behavioral health, drug or medical treatment, and other similar services. The Sanitation Department team further assists by cleaning up accumulated trash. 

    * Service days are not the same as formal, encampment resolutions, which, while social services-led, involve many more City of Philadelphia departments and nonprofit partners and follow specific protocols regarding personal property storage, notification, and other requirements. 

  • Nov
    18
    Event
    Navigating Change: A Philadelphia Continuum of Care Community Meeting Featuring the Recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week
    10:00 am to 1:00 pm
    Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
    Event

    Navigating Change: A Philadelphia Continuum of Care Community Meeting Featuring the Recognition of Hunger and Homelessness Awareness Week

    November 18, 2025
    10:00 am to 1:00 pm, 3 hours
    Parkway Central Library, 1901 Vine St, Philadelphia, PA 19103, USA
    map

    Join us for updates on Philadelphia’s Continuum of Care from the CoC Board in partnership with the Office of Homeless Services, along with a panel discussion from food, housing, and service providers, about hunger and homelessness in Philadelphia! The event will conclude with a networking hour.  

    This in-person event will occur at Parkway Central Library in the Skyline Room on Tuesday, November 18, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Let's come together to raise awareness and explore solutions to these critical issues! 

    Visit the Office of Homeless Services Eventbrite page to grab your tickets today!
See all events

Press Releases

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Programs

PEACE Program

Securing housing for older adults with histories of homelessness and complex physical or behavioral health needs.
Philadelphia rowhomes.

OHS Landlord Engagement Program

Connecting landlords with families and individuals experiencing homelessness.

Landlord Gateway

Centralizing information for landlords to navigate the City’s property management resources.

Resources

OHS mailing list
Get information about success stories, events, and ways to get involved.
Volunteer at a meal site
Serving individuals and community members who are experiencing hunger and homelessness.
2022 annual report
A report on the Office of Homeless Services' efforts to make homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring in Philadelphia.
OHS flyers
These flyers provided by OHS contain information about various programs and how to get connected to services.

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