Month: July 2021

Housing

ACT UP Philadelphia calls for revamp of city’s housing services

July 10, 2021

To mark the end of Pride month and the ongoing fight for adequate housing, members of the Philadelphia chapter of the HIV/AIDS activism organization ACT UP held a protest outside of Mayor Jim Kenney’s condo in Old City. Around 40 ACT UP members and activists gathered to demand more plentiful permanent housing for Philadelphians facing homelessness, many of whom are Black and Brown and LGBTQ+. They also called for an overhaul of the leadership of Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services (OHS). | From Philadelphia Gay News (Read more.)

Health

N.J. hospitals can now build housing for those experiencing homelessness, connecting need to services

July 10, 2021

Saying the state has to “think creatively,” New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed legislation Wednesday to let hospitals build housing for people experiencing homelessness, a measure that supporters say represents an important step toward better health care.

The idea is that permanent, stable housing is a key to good health. People who are homeless are more likely to be hospitalized more often, to stay in the hospital longer once they’re there, and to require more care during treatment. | The Inquirer (Read more.)

Health

Grands Stepping Up provides much-needed resources for elderly caring for their grandkids

July 9, 2021

The opioid crisis in Philadelphia has left an overwhelming amount of families struggling to help their loved ones.

According to statistics provided by the city, over 578 residents died last year due to unintentional drug overdoses.

These sudden deaths break families apart and often leave children without their parents. In their place, grandparents often step up and raise their grandchildren despite lack of financial support or other resources. | From AL DÍA (Read more.)

Health

Philly races to distribute rental assistance before the national eviction ban ends

July 9, 2021

The eviction bans that have kept people in their homes during the unprecedented pandemic and its economic fallout are nearing their end. People waiting for help are terrified that rental assistance will come too late.

“It’s a race at this point to see if the city can process [applications] and pay out the money fast enough,” said Rachel Garland, managing attorney of the housing unit at Community Legal Services of Philadelphia. “That will resolve the vast majority of eviction cases.” | From The Inquirer (Read more.)

Health

Pa. and N.J. racial gap in access to in-person learning last year was among the worst in the nation, new report says

July 9, 2021

As schools moved to bring children back during the pandemic, students of color in Pennsylvania and New Jersey were less likely than white students to have the choice to attend in person. And the access gaps between those groups in the two states were among the widest in the country, according to a report released this week by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. | From The Inquirer (Read more.)

Health

Is a Philly vaccination collaborative a roadmap to equitable healthcare?

July 9, 2021

From mid-February through mid-April, they held six clinics in West and Southwest Philly, fully vaccinating 2,821 Philadelphians, 85 percent of them Black. They did it by harnessing the power of their faith communities, led by trusted leaders whose word held sway among even reluctant congregants, and designing the clinic with the Philadelphians they sought to serve. Though the number vaccinated through the collaborative is small, the lessons learned could go well beyond vaccines, or even Covid-19. | From: The Citizen (Read more.)