Here are the services Philadelphia is offering to people experiencing homelessness during a Code Blue event
The city will remain under a Code Blue declaration, which mobilizes additional homeless services amid severe cold weather, until further notice.
As cold temperatures and wintry weather persist in Philadelphia this week, the city is offering additional resources to people experiencing homelessness.
The Office of Homeless Services declared a Code Blue event on Thursday, and the declaration will stay in place until further notice, city officials said. Code Blue indicates the severity and potential life-threatening nature of certain winter weather conditions, especially for those experiencing homelessness, and offers additional city resources to those in need of heat and shelter.
Last year, some intake shelters closed during a snow emergency and other shelters were forced to turn people away. This year, the city is opening its warming centers on a different schedule, and the largest homeless shelter in Philadelphia said it had beds available Monday.
After Monday’s snowfall, freezing temperatures and significant wind gusts are expected to continue throughout the week. Here’s what to know about a Code Blue event in Philadelphia and the resources that are available.
How does Philadelphia determine its Code Blue status?
The city activates this status when it expects very cold conditions, including when there’s precipitation, and temperatures are below freezing or feel near or below 20 degrees because of wind chill.
How does a Code Blue affect people experiencing homelessness?
A Code Blue mobilizes 24-hour city outreach workers to find people who are experiencing homelessness and transport them indoors. People who are homeless will also be allowed to stay in emergency housing throughout the day during Code Blue events, according to the city. And following standard Code Blue procedures, the city has added 100 beds in shelters.
Those in need of shelter can also walk into any city-funded intake center — three daytime centers and four after-hours centers — or call the Homeless Street Outreach hotline at 215-232-1984.
What is Philadelphia offering for this week’s extreme cold?
The city has embarked on a new “Warming Center Initiative,” which entails opening 20 warming centers around the city aimed at shielding Philadelphians, including those experiencing homelessness, from extreme temperatures or conditions.
The new initiative marks a change from the city’s previous practices, in which OHS opened warming centers only during a snow emergency or if shelters had reached capacity.
The city said it opened two of its warming centers on Sunday, one at the Juniata Older Adult Center and the other at the Inn of Amazing Mercy in Kensington. By the end of the day, 43 people visited the centers, with OHS assisting six into shelters.
Mayor Cherelle L. Parker said that the new warming centers are not just for people experiencing homelessness and that “anyone is welcome.”
“We remain committed to ensuring there are quick and easy ways for people to stay safe, like keeping warm during Code Blue events, and are always looking for new ways to keep our residents and most vulnerable populations connected to services,” Parker said.
To find a nearby warming center, people can use a digital map created by the city or call the Homeless Street Outreach hotline.
What about other intake shelters in Philadelphia?
Philly House, the largest and longest-running shelter in Philly, had beds available Monday, said Jeremy Montgomery, president and CEO of the organization.
Last year, the shelter, which is privately funded and serves single men, reached capacity and had to turn people away during a snow emergency. This year, Montgomery said, his organization has been in close communication with OHS to ensure access to beds.
“People assume that Philadelphia is like other major cities in which we don’t have enough resources and beds on nights like this,” Montgomery said.
But the weather, the closure of city offices Monday, and short lunchtime staffing due to volunteers calling out can make servicing those at the shelter more challenging, he said.
“The city offices are closed, so that never makes it easy upon providers like us to be able to coordinate,” Montgomery said.
Still, he said, Code Blue events are a reminder why advocates are involved in the first place.
“Being a provider in this industry, cold weather, we see as an opportunity to serve,” Montgomery said.