Mental Health Services for the Homeless

Safe Havens

• Safe Havens are federally funded residences for chronically homeless men and women, with a mental health diagnosis.
• They may be resistant to treatment or medications, at-risk for living on the street, and inappropriate for other housing, and may have a substance abuse issue.
• These "low demand" residences only require individuals respect other residents and staff, and exhibit no violent or aggressive behavior.
• Entry into these facilities is usually advocated by outreach teams, intensive case managers, and others dealing with this population and is achieved by contacting the agency directly.

Bethesda Project (for referral contact the Case Manager at (215) 985-1600)

My Brother’s House (men only)

609 S. 15^th St.

Philadelphia, PA

(215) 545-3011



Project HOME (for referral contact the Outreach Coordination Center at (215) 232-7272)

St. Columba’s (men only) web page: www.projecthome.net/housing/st_columba.html

4133 Chestnut St.

Philadelphia, PA 19104

(215) 232-7236



Women of Change (women only) web page: www.projecthome.net/housing/women.html

2042 Arch St.

Philadelphia, PA 19103

(215) 564-0901



City-Funded Mental Health Residences

• Admission to city-funded mental health residences is through the Access to Alternative Services (AAS) Department of the Office of Mental Health.
• To speak with a "gatekeeper" (OMH analyst responsible for admissions) and to request an application, call (215) 546-0300.
• There is a continuum of city-funded housing for individuals with serious mental health issues who are having difficulty living independently.
• Progressive Demand Residences (PDR’s) are entry-level residences for homeless men and women.
• Some PDR’s accept dually-diagnosed (mental health and substance abuse) individuals.
• Progressive Demand Residences generally require that a person is working with a mental health treatment provider, is taking medication if prescribed, and follows other residential rules.





Progressive Demand Residences

Gaudenzia New Beginnings (residential treatment for dually diagnosed men and women)

1300 Spring Garden Street

Philadelphia, PA 19123

440-9669

Joy of Living (residential treatment for dually diagnosed women and men)

Gaudenzia, Inc.

1509 Cecil B. Moore Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19121

765-2026

First Step Refuge (residential treatment for dually diagnosed men)

1360 Ridge Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19123

236-1647 Ext: 315




Omni House (residential living for chronically mentally ill homeless adults)

5718 Greene Street

Philadelphia, PA 19144

849-5851

Women of Hope

1210 Lombard Street

Philadelphia, PA 19147

732-1341

--- and ---

251 N. Lawrence Street

Philadelphia, PA 19106

592-9116

 

Supportive/Transitional Housing

Project HOME (residential living programs for homeless men and women)

1515 Fairmount Avenue

Philadelphia, PA 19130

232-7272




The Bethesda Project (shelter and transitional housing for frail, ill, elderly, and mentally ill men and women)

1630 South Street

Philadelphia, PA 19146

985-1600 (Administrative offices)




Homeless Intervention Project (HIP) (for those capable of living independently. Must be clean and sober for six months.)

Horizon House

714 Market Street, 4^th Flr.

Philadelphia, PA 19106

(215) 925-4070 ext. 104






Source: "Accessing Services for the Homeless Resource Guide 2001" - www.homelessphila.org/resource.html

RETURN TO HOME PAGE