As longtime housing activist retires, the fight to end homelessness continues.

Summary

Consider This from NPR: As Longtime Housing Activist Retires, the Fight to End Homelessness Continues

Release Date: January 10, 2025
Host: NPR’s Ari Shapiro

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Rising Homelessness Numbers Alarm the Nation

In the latest report released by the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) in January, the United States faces an unsettling increase in homelessness. According to NPR's Jennifer Ludden, the report revealed that 770,000 people were living in shelters or without stable housing during the count—a staggering 18% rise from the previous year and the highest figure recorded since the report's inception in 2007 (00:18). However, experts like Jeff Olivet, former head of the government's Interagency Council on Homelessness, offer a glimmer of hope. He notes that in cities such as Phoenix, Los Angeles, and Dallas, homelessness numbers are stabilizing or even decreasing, suggesting that strategic investments in housing can yield positive results (01:12).

Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Controversy

A significant policy shift occurred last year when the Supreme Court ruled that cities could criminalize sleeping outside, even for those with nowhere else to go. Advocates argue that this decision effectively criminalizes poverty, while supporters claim it will encourage individuals to seek homeless services and rehabilitation programs. Tom Patty, San Joaquin County Supervisor, defended the ruling by stating, “The homeless have no right to turn every park and sidewalk into a place for them to squat and do drugs” (02:08). This ruling has led to over 100 jurisdictions, including areas east of San Francisco, implementing bans on outdoor sleeping (02:27).

Project Home: A Beacon of Hope in Philadelphia

Amidst national debates and policy changes, grassroots organizations continue to make strides in combating homelessness. Project Home in Philadelphia stands out as a testament to dedicated activism. Founded in 1989 by Sister Mary Scullion, Project Home began as an emergency winter shelter and has since expanded to encompass a thousand housing units and two businesses providing employment opportunities to formerly homeless individuals. Sister Mary, honored by Time magazine as one of the 100 most influential people in the world in 2009, recently retired after 35 years of service (04:50).

An Interview with Sister Mary Scullion: Building Beyond Shelters

In an insightful conversation, Sister Mary delves into what sets Project Home apart from other homeless service organizations. She emphasizes a holistic approach, stating, “Project Home different is that we were able to understand that housing or shelter is not enough. People needed health care, the jobs, the education that enable people not only to survive but to thrive” (05:01). For her, providing a roof is merely the beginning. Sister Mary underscores the importance of community, referencing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s concept of the "beloved community": “We continue to strive to be, a beloved community where everyone is welcomed and valued” (05:20).

One of the organization's guiding principles is encapsulated in their motto, “None of us are home until all of us are home.” Sister Mary explains the origin of this powerful statement, highlighting the interconnectedness of the community: “We needed to engage everyone in our community to recognize that homelessness affects all of us and that if anyone is homeless, all of us are impacted by that” (05:45). This philosophy draws inspiration from historical movements, reinforcing the idea that addressing homelessness is a collective responsibility.

Challenges and the Path Forward

When addressing recent challenges, including the Supreme Court's decision to limit options for the homeless, Sister Mary expresses deep concern about the nation's direction: “It's totally moving in the wrong direction. And it's acceptable because it's just simply wrong” (09:59). She acknowledges a growing public awareness about the lack of affordable housing and its broader implications but remains cautious about the effectiveness of current political agendas in addressing the crisis comprehensively.

A Call to Action: What Can Individuals Do?

Sister Mary passionately urges individuals to take actionable steps in their daily lives to combat homelessness. She advocates for viewing every homeless person as a fellow human being and emphasizes the importance of social policy in enacting lasting change. “Social policy is the most impactful way to end and prevent homelessness. And it's not just about building new units. It's about preserving units. It's about helping existing renters and homeowners to afford and keep their homes safe and upgrade” (10:14). She encourages civic engagement, voting, and holding elected officials accountable to ensure resources are allocated effectively to support affordable housing and comprehensive care for all community members.

Sister Mary also highlights the often invisible struggles of the homeless population, including those living in unsafe or overcrowded conditions: “We have to see our brothers and sisters who are not only living on our streets, but in doubled up and unsafe housing conditions” (10:14). Her heartfelt plea is a reminder that ending homelessness requires both empathy and proactive effort from every individual.

Conclusion

As Sister Mary Scullion retires, her legacy through Project Home continues to inspire and guide the fight against homelessness in Philadelphia and beyond. Her holistic approach, emphasizing housing, healthcare, education, and community, offers a comprehensive model for other organizations nationwide. Despite the increasing numbers and challenging policies, the ongoing efforts of activists like Sister Mary demonstrate that positive change is possible through dedication, strategic action, and collective responsibility.

This episode was produced by Matt Ozug, Mark Rivers, and Elena Burnett, with additional reporting from Jennifer Ludden. Edited by Jeanette Woods and executive produced by Sami Yenigun.

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Transcript Time References

• 00:18 - Initial homelessness statistics
• 01:12 - Jeff Olivet on positive trends
• 02:08 - Tom Patty on banning outdoor sleeping
• 02:27 - Nationwide implementation of bans
• 04:50 - Sister Mary’s retirement and Project Home’s growth
• 05:01 - Holistic approach of Project Home
• 05:20 - Importance of community
• 05:45 - Origin of Project Home’s motto
• 09:59 - Concerns about national policy direction
• 10:14 - Call to action for individuals

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Note: Advertisements, sponsor messages, and non-content segments from the transcript have been excluded to focus solely on the episode's key discussions and insights.

Transcript

[A]

At the end of the year, the US Got some new figures on homelessness that were not encouraging.

[B]

Yes. So this is account that takes place all around the country every January. It's compiled by the Department of Housing and urban development.

[A]

NPR's Jennifer Ludden talked with me about it in late December, the day the report came out.

[B]

And this year, it found 770,000 people living in shelters or outside, on streets, in parks, in their cars. That is up 18% from last year.

[A]

18%.

[B]

And it is the largest number since they started doing this report in 2007. Yes, it is. I should also note an undercount. It's widely considered an undercount. This is a snapshot one night in each place. It does not include people who may.

[A]

Be crowding in with family or friends. So the bad news is that the number of unhoused people in the US Is at a record high, or at least it was when the government did the count last January. The good news is there's reason to believe those numbers have gone down since that national census. In lots of big cities, people who work with homeless populations say things are improving. Until recently, Jeff Olivet led the government's Interagency Council on Homelessness.

[B]

We've seen either stabilizing of the numbers or reduction of the numbers in some pretty unlikely places like Phoenix and Los Angeles and Dallas. And to me, what that says is if we keep investing the right way in getting people off the streets and into housing as quickly as possible, we really can see those numbers go down.

[A]

One major policy change last year came from the Supreme Court, and advocates for homeless people were not happy about it. The justices issued a ruling saying it's okay to punish people for sleeping outside, even if they have nowhere else to go. Opponents of the ruling say it basically criminalizes poverty. Supporters say it'll help push people towards homeless services, drug treatment programs, and other resources. Since the Supreme Court decided that case, more than 100 places around the country have banned people from sleeping outside, like California's San Joaquin county, east of San Francisco, where Tom Patty is county supervisor.

[B]

We're not hardcore, but we do know that if a person's trying to build a pallet palace with their blue tarps and tents, we say, no, no, no, you're not allowed to do this. You are trespassing. The homeless have no right to turn every park and sidewalk into a place for them to squat and do drugs.

[A]

Donald Trump has said when he sworn in as president this month he'll work with states to ban urban camping.

[B]

Violators of these bans will be arrested, but they will be given the option to accept treatment and services if they're willing to be rehabilitated.

[A]

Consider this While the national debate over homeless policy plays out across the country, a grassroots organization called Project Home has offered resources to homeless people in Philadelphia for decades. We'll talk with the co founder who just retired after 35 years. From NPR, I'm Ari Shapiro. This message comes from NPR sponsor Saatva Founder and CEO Ron Rudson shares why Saatva Sales Associates are focused on finding the perfect mattress for their customers.

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To learn more, go to saatva.com NPR this message comes from Schwab. At Schwab, how you invest is your choice, not theirs. That's why when it comes to managing your wealth, Schwab gives you more choices. You can invest and trade on your own, plus get advice and more comprehensive wealth solutions to help meet your unique needs. With award winning service, low costs and transparent advice, you can manage your wealth your way at Schwab. Visit schwab.com to learn more. It's consider this from NPR. It's been more than 35 years since Sister Mary Scullion co founded Project home. Back in 1989, it was just an emergency winter shelter in South Philadelphia. Today it has a thousand housing units across the city and two businesses that offer jobs to formerly homeless people. As the organization grew, so did Sister Mary's profile. Time magazine named her one of the 100 most influential people in the world back in 2009. I spoke with her just before she retired at the end of the year and asked what she thinks sets Project Home apart from other homeless service organizations in the U.S. i think what made.

[B]

Project Home different is that we were able to understand that housing or shelter is not enough. People needed health care, the jobs, the education that enable people not only to survive but to thrive.

[A]

It's so much more than just a roof.

[B]

It has to be. And a community in which to belong I think is also critically important. Dr. Martin Luther King talked about the beloved community and at Project Home, that's something we continue to strive to be, a beloved community where everyone is welcomed and valued.

[A]

You've become famous for the organization's motto, none of us Are home until all of us are home. Where did that sentence come from?

[B]

That sentence came when we first started, and we were building 48 units of affordable housing. And we had a lot of opposition, including, you know, the city leadership that was trying to stop us. So we looked upon this effort as something that was a political movement. We needed to engage everyone in our community to recognize that homelessness affects all of us and that if anyone is homeless, all of us are impacted by that. So, again, none of us are free until all of us are free. And another example of that was for the Eucharistic Congress. Father Rupe said, if anyone is hungry anywhere in the world, the Eucharist is incomplete everywhere in the world.

[A]

So this line is an adaptation. Yeah.

[B]

Of many historical movements and efforts to help us all recognize that we're part of one human family.

[A]

You did street outreach even before you co founded project home in 1989. What was it about this cause specifically that spoke to you so much?

[B]

What spoke to me was when I would talk with women, many of whom had been deinstitutionalized and were living on.

[A]

The street, meaning they had been in mental health facilities and were no longer.

[B]

Deinstitutionalization happened all across the United States in the late 60s and 70s, where people who had been forced to live in these mental hospitals, state mental hospitals, were supposed to be welcomed back into the community. But the communities and neighborhoods were not set up to be able to provide supportive housing. So it was just a drastic change, and many people fell through the cracks and ended up living on the street. As I engaged the women who were living on the street and got to know them as people, and I asked them what would they like. Everybody pretty much said the same thing. A job and a home, and to, you know, be able to return to my home at night, and they were still out there. It just was so unacceptable to me. I mean, the marginalization and having people live out on a bitter cold night, how could they possibly do that and survive? So once I got to know people as people, there was just no turning back. I mean, they were my friends. They were. They're part of our community. We had to respond in a way that welcome them home.

[A]

If I could bring you up to the present day, the Supreme Court decided a case in June allowing cities to ban people from sleeping and camping in public places. And you spoke out against that ruling. Both presidential candidates talked during the campaign about the lack of affordable housing in the US which direction do you think the country is moving on this issue that you've devoted your life to.

[B]

I do believe that most people today are aware of the lack of affordable housing and how that impacts not only people who are unsheltered. People who are unsheltered are the tip of the iceberg, the prophetic sign that says something's radically wrong. And I do believe that is now on the political agenda, that people understand something should be done.

[A]

I mean, I just wonder. I agree with you that there is a growing awareness of the problem of a lack of affordable housing. But as homeless populations continue to grow and as the Supreme Court decides a major case that limits the options for people who don't have housing, and we don't see a dramatic, aggressive move to build affordable housing stock, I just wonder whether you think the needle is moving in the wrong direction in this country right now.

[B]

Absolutely. It's totally moving in the wrong direction. And it's acceptable because it's just simply wrong.

[A]

Is there something that you would encourage ordinary people to do in their daily lives to address homelessness?

[B]

Sure. All of us can see and acknowledge and affirm another human being as simply that, a human being at a minimum. But I think the social policy is the most impactful way to end and prevent homelessness. And it's not just about building new units. It's about preserving units. It's about helping existing renters and homeowners to afford and keep their homes safe and upgrade. It about each one of us deciding what kind of country do we want to live in and holding our elected officials accountable for how our resources are spent and to further a country where everybody can afford a place to live. And that means voting. It means getting involved in the civic life of our neighborhoods and our communities. And it means not putting on our blinders. We have to see our brothers and sisters. We have to see our brothers and sisters who are not only living on our streets, but in doubled up and unsafe housing conditions. We have to see the kids that are going to movies and all night theaters so that people don't know that they're unsheltered or that they're homeless. We have to see the elderly, who's on our street, people who have mental health issues, people who are using substances. We have the capacity, the talent, the resources to provide health care and affordable housing to everyone in our community. If we truly believe that none of us are home until all of us are home.

[A]

That was Sister Mary Scullion, co founder of Project Home in Philadelphia. This episode was produced by Matt Ozug, Mark Rivers and Elena Burnett, with additional reporting from Jennifer Ludden. It was edited by Jeanette Woods. Our executive producer is is Sami Yenigun. It's consider this from NPR. I'm Ari Shapiro. This message comes from Grammarly.

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