Abstract

This paper examines Philadelphia’s escalating homelessness crisis and introduces a community apartment model as an innovative solution. With a staggering 38% rise in unsheltered homelessness in 2024, it is clear that current approaches are inadequate. The proposed model repurposes vacant buildings into dignified living spaces, offering residents not only stable housing but also employment and support services. This approach aims to reduce homelessness, encourage community integration, and break down the stigma that often surrounds homelessness, which is rooted in systemic inequities and economic challenges. Through the initiative “Homeless Still Human,” led by ITAVFoundation, we underscore the humanity of those affected and advocate for solutions that restore dignity. By fostering empathy, engagement, and meaningful change, this model seeks to redefine Philadelphia’s approach to homelessness.

Introduction

Homelessness in Philadelphia has reached a tipping point. As of 2024, the city has experienced a 38% surge in unsheltered homelessness (Philadelphia Office of Homeless Services, 2024), with around 1,000 people living without shelter. This increase highlights the urgency for alternative, sustainable housing solutions that tackle the root causes of homelessness. At its core, homelessness is far more than a lack of shelter; it’s a symptom of larger social issues, including economic disparity, inadequate mental health support, and systemic inequities. Factors such as job loss, rising housing costs, low wages, and insufficient mental health resources often push people, particularly those in marginalized communities, into homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness (2023) notes that housing costs across many U.S. cities now exceed what many low-income families can manage, a reality that leaves people vulnerable to homelessness, especially those in the LGBTQ+ community and others already facing socioeconomic challenges.

The community apartment model proposed here is designed to address these intertwined issues with a comprehensive and humane solution.

Community Apartment Model: A Dignified Solution

The community apartment model envisions converting Philadelphia’s vacant buildings into stable, affordable housing for individuals and families facing homelessness. This concept builds on the structures of successful senior citizen housing and college dormitories to provide not only shelter but a true sense of community and belonging.

Key Components

1. Housing: Private apartments offer residents stability, privacy, and the autonomy often absent in traditional shelter models.
2. Community Dining Halls: A cafeteria-style setting fosters social interaction and provides reliable daily meals, helping to alleviate food insecurity and build social bonds.
3. Employment Opportunities: Residents with appropriate skills are offered on-site employment in roles like maintenance, kitchen services, cleaning, security, and administration. These opportunities empower residents and give them a sense of purpose and self-sufficiency.
4. Community Support Services: On-site social workers, counselors, and healthcare providers offer resources to residents struggling with trauma, addiction, or mental health challenges. These services help residents stabilize and work toward independent living.

This model’s foundation rests on the principle of community and support, not merely as a stopgap but as a path to integration, independence, and dignity.

Addressing Stigma and Dignity

Homelessness often comes with a heavy stigma, leading to social isolation and a loss of dignity. The “Homeless Still Human” initiative, part of ITAVFoundation, aims to dismantle these stereotypes by sharing the real stories of those affected, advocating for their dignity, and educating the public on homelessness. Through events, partnerships, and awareness campaigns, “Homeless Still Human” reframes homelessness as a social challenge rather than a personal failing. By shifting the narrative, we foster empathy and understanding within our communities, encouraging support and reducing judgment.

The community apartment model aligns with this mission by providing an environment where residents feel respected and supported, a stark contrast to the shame and isolation that many homeless individuals experience in traditional shelters or on the streets.

Structural and Economic Considerations

The adaptive reuse of vacant properties requires collaboration with architects, engineers, and local agencies to ensure that buildings are safe and suitable for residential conversion. This model, however, has the potential for significant long-term economic and social benefits. The investment in community apartments could reduce reliance on emergency shelters, healthcare facilities, and law enforcement, leading to savings in public spending. By helping individuals transition from homelessness to stability, Philadelphia stands to benefit from a healthier, more inclusive, and empowered community.

Furthermore, the community apartment model has precedents in other cities where similar approaches have helped reduce homelessness and improve community health. This successful track record reinforces the model’s viability and potential impact on Philadelphia’s homelessness crisis.

Conclusion and Call to Action

Philadelphia’s homelessness crisis calls for immediate and innovative action. The community apartment model represents a sustainable and dignified approach to addressing homelessness, providing housing, employment, and support to those in need. By changing the way we perceive and address homelessness, we can cultivate empathy and understanding and foster lasting change within our communities.

To achieve this vision, it will take collaboration across sectors—government, nonprofits, local businesses, and community members. We invite all stakeholders to participate in creating a future where every Philadelphian has access to safe and stable housing. The “Homeless Still Human” initiative invites residents to support our city’s most vulnerable and champion change.

Only through a community-wide effort can we hope to eliminate homelessness and create an equitable future for all. Together, let’s dismantle stigma, advocate for dignity, and redefine what it means to support our neighbors.

About the Author

Trudean Haye is the Founder & CEO of ITAVFoundation, an organization dedicated to uplifting underrepresented communities. With a background in social advocacy and firsthand understanding of homelessness, Trudean is committed to fostering change through community-based solutions and empathetic engagement.