Office of Homeless Services – Philadelphia, PA

General Overview

The Office of Homeless Services (OHS), formerly known as the Office of Supportive Housing, is the lead government agency in Philadelphia dedicated to making homelessness rare, brief, and non-recurring. Located in the Municipal Services Building (MSB) at 1401 John F. Kennedy Boulevard, this office provides the leadership, coordination, and resource mobilization necessary to support the city’s most vulnerable residents. OHS manages a unified homeless service system that includes emergency housing, transitional housing, rapid rehousing, and permanent supportive housing. While the administrative headquarters and the Prevention, Diversion and Intake Unit are located at this address, the office coordinates a vast network of over 60 service providers across the city.

Prevention and Diversion

The specific unit located at 1401 JFK Blvd (Suite 1030) focuses on homelessness prevention and diversion. This critical function aims to help individuals and families avoid entering the shelter system altogether. Services offered here or through their referral partners include:

• Emergency Rental Assistance: Financial aid for those at imminent risk of eviction.
• Diversion Services: Conflict resolution and mediation to help people stay with friends or family rather than entering a shelter.
• Case Management: Connecting at-risk residents with other social services, benefits, and legal resources.

Intake vs. Administration

It is crucial for visitors to understand the distinction between this administrative office and emergency shelter intake centers. Do not come to 1401 JFK Blvd for an immediate shelter bed assignment. Emergency shelter intake is handled at specific sites depending on the demographic:

• Families and Single Women: Typically referred to the Appletree Family Center (1430 Cherry St) or the Red Shield Family Residence (715 N Broad St).
• Single Men: Typically referred to the Roosevelt Darby Center (804 N Broad St).
• Youth: Various youth access points are available throughout the city.

The 1401 JFK location is primarily for administrative matters, scheduled prevention appointments, and system coordination.

Food Access

OHS also plays a vital role in the city’s food security network. It funds and coordinates with food cupboards and soup kitchens to ensure that meals are available to those experiencing food insecurity. The office helps publish resources and directories to connect hungry Philadelphians with free food sites in their neighborhoods.

Security and Access

The Office of Homeless Services is housed within the Municipal Services Building, a high-security government facility. Visitors must enter through the main lobby and pass through security screening, which includes metal detectors and bag checks. A valid photo ID is required to enter the building. Due to the high volume of inquiries, appointments are strongly recommended for prevention services, though specific intake centers operate on a walk-in basis during their respective hours.