Homeless Outreach

To address panhandling and homelessness on Center City sidewalks, the CCD funds and deploys innovative outreach efforts called the Ambassadors of Hope (AoH), a unique partnership with Project HOME and the Philadelphia Police with strong support from the City of Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health. The CCD launched the effort in 2018, based on the assumption that complex social problems require an interdisciplinary approach, what is termed a “co-delivery” model of service.

Ambassadors of Hope

Ambassadors of Hope is made up of three teams each consisting of a CCD Outreach Specialist, a Project Home outreach worker, and a Philadelphia Police Officer from the Central Service Detail specially trained in crisis-intervention, supported by a CSR manager with a vehicle available to all teams for transport to services. The teams patrol on foot and cover the CCD’s entire district, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. One team patrols west of Broad Street and the other patrols east of Broad. In February 2023, an additional Project Home worker was added, and partnered with a CCD Outreach Specialist, forming a third outreach team working Tuesday through Saturday, with a daily emphasis on engaging with well-known, chronically homeless individuals at recurrent gathering locations. The social service and outreach workers on these teams initiate discussions with these individuals.

Over the past eight seasons, through consistent interaction with the AoH teams, over 1,300 unsheltered clients accepted help and were transported to service or treatment providers geared toward their individual needs, including shelter or housing. CCD provided transportation in 82% of the cases. About 52% of those accepting services were chronically homeless individuals who resisted help and placement in the past. Those who did not accept services, but continued to engage in problematic behavior, were instructed by the police officer on the team to cease the behavior and all complied with no citations or code violation notices issued to date. The AoH teams also secured emergency medical services (EMS) for more than 80 individuals who needed immediate medical treatment. 

You can help us do more by supporting the CCD Foundation today.

Winter Outreach

The Winter Outreach program starts on January 2nd and ends the last week of April. During the winter months the CCD and Project Home teams continue to provide outreach services to unhoused individuals in the same manner as AoH, except instead of a trained police officer being assigned to each team, one is readily available through radio contact if needed. In late April, officers rejoin the teams and the full complement of AoH members are again deployed. 

Learn more about how you can support Ambassadors of Hope through contributions to the CCD Foundation.

Businesses, residents and members of the public may provide information regarding ongoing locations or individuals that our outreach teams should engage by emailing outreach@centercityphila.org.