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Congressman Evans Highlights Model Program to Fight Homelessness on the House Floor

November 8, 2017

Earlier this week, Congressman Dwight Evans (PA-02) took to the House Floor to speak about the City of Philadelphia's new Hub of Hope program, an initiative to address homelessness throughout the city.

With a 26% poverty rate, our city has the highest rate of poverty of the major U.S. cities, a dubious statistic which I stand determined to turn-around. According to the Department of Housing and Urban Development, more than 6,000 people are homeless in the City of Philadelphia and 15,000 people are homeless in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

In an effort to help lift people out of poverty, Hub of Hope emerged as the brainchild of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA), Project HOME, and the City of Philadelphia, to provide individuals in need with some of the tools and resources necessary to get them back on their feet. For the last six winters Hub of Hope has provided walk-in services for the homeless. In roughly two months, Hub of Hope will open a new 11,000 square-foot comprehensive service center for the homeless at Suburban Station in Center City. The location in Suburban Station will provide comprehensive services, which include: medical and psychiatric care, legal advice, showers and bathrooms, laundry and food in a safe and warm environment.

"Poverty is a real problem facing our city. I am proud to see SEPTA, Project HOME and the city come together in a thoughtful and productive way, in their effort to continue to move our city forward," Congressman Evans said. "Hub of Hope is making ideas matter by bringing a public-private partnership to life to deliver positive, lasting outcomes. Ending homelessness requires a team effort on the city, state, and federal level. Hub of Hope is one of the tools in our toolbox designed towards creating an environment which gives people in need the opportunity to get back on their feet."

The full video of Congressman Evans speaking on the House Floor can be found here: http://bit.ly/2jcJRdP

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Media Contact: Becca Brukman, 202-225-4001, Becca.Brukman@mail.house.gov