Office of Supportive Housing
Centralized Intake
Families and Single Adults
The Office of Supportive Housing (OSH) is the City Department responsible for planning and
implementing Philadelphia's response to homelessness, and directly contracts for more than 6,000
beds in the City's emergency, transitional and permanent housing inventory.
The department operates Centralized Intake for families and single adults and is responsible for
assessing eligibility for placement into the emergency housing system. OSH operates two city staffed
sites during regular business hours: the Apple Tree Family Center serves families with children and
single women and the Roosevelt Darby Intake Center serves single adult men. Three after-hours
Emergency Housing locations are subcontracted and operate after 4pm: the Red Shield serves only
families with children; House of Passage services only single females and the Station House operates
after-hours for single adult men.
The primary goal of the OSH Centralized Intake is to provide comprehensive diversion, intake
assessment, and referral services to households in need of temporary shelter (emergency housing).
Each centralized location is staffed with a Social Work Supervisor and Social Work Managers and
other support staff. The common duties assigned to OSH Intake staff at the family and single adults
Intakes is as follows:
1. DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
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Review OSH HMIS record system for new/returning clients to emergency housing
Screen for existing Purchase of Service (POS) and POS history (current or returning client)
regarding emergency housing placement
2. NEEDS ASSESSMENT
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Create client profile in OSH HMIS database
Identify and evaluate individual client needs
Identify factors contributing to homelessness, including
• Client statement of presenting problem(s)
• Emergency Housing placement prior history/protocol history
• Family history
• Past/current living situation
• Income/financial situation
• Past/current history with Drug and Alcohol treatment
• Past/current history with Mental Health status
• Medical history including past hospitalization
• Medication history, including current supply
• Criminal justice involvement, including probation/parole
Identify existing or need for coordination with Children and Youth, as appropriate.
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Provide non-Philadelphia residents financial assistance and coordinate transportation for
return to home location, as appropriate
Determine service needs and refer to appropriate support services.
3. INTAKE AND ORIENTATION
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Provide orientation of OSH services, policy and procedures
Verify/assist with obtaining personal identification
Counsel and complete Shelter Fee and savings form
Document record in HMIS (computer files)
Consult with city and non city agencies
Provide consultation to city/non city agencies regarding OSH policies
Provide referrals to other city/non city organizations including, Special Needs unit, MH
programs, Drug and alcohol Detox/TX , Health clinics.
Provide prevention service, including referrals to rental assistance programs.
Provide transportation assistance
Provide emergency housing placement services, temporary and permanent
Provide stranded travelers’ assessment; travel information & assistance, obtain
voucher/purchase ticket.
Family Intake Specific
The unique components provided at the Appletree Family Center (AFC) include the following:
Placement Coordinator: Contacts all of the female and family shelters to identify available
placements, and then matches the vacancies with placement requests received, (via HMIS, Intake
Social Workers and/or Case Mangers). The Placement Coordinator makes emergency housing
placements based on: placement vacancies, family size and composition, and consumers physical
limitations, if any. For example: inability to climb or sleep on a top bunk because of seizures or
severe arthritis. Placement Coordinator notifies Intake Social Workers and Case- Managers via
HMIS, when a placement is pending or obtained.
John F Kennedy Mental Health Services (JFK): In partnership with the Department of
Behavioral Health an on-site staff person from JFK, (Mental Health Crisis Specialist) assesses
families and/or single females to determine suitability for emergency housing placement. The JFK
Crisis Specialist coordinates services for those households who are already connected with DBH
and/or assists in making those connections before emergency housing placement.
Auto Driver: Transports households with children to emergency housing sites and transports cribs
that are provided at the intake for children age 2 and under.
Alternative Service Options:
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OSH requires that heads of household sign a Children's Services Agreement to elicit their
partnership in maintaining school attendance and performance; healthy meal participation,
medical and dental assessments, immunizations, and age appropriate development..
Through the Homeless Liaison's office, the School District of Philadelphia provides an onsite Alternative School for school-aged children. Children who present at the AFC with
their families receive credit for attending school. Children who are old enough to travel on
bus/train are provided tokens (including tokens for adults to travel with younger children to
school).
Bright Space: A Bright Space is provided at the AFC to provide an educational opportunity
for parents and their children to learn while they play. Parents learn about age appropriate
behavior and the value of quality time interacting with their children. The children develop
language, reading, math, social and motor skills in a safe, fun, age appropriate environment.
Immunization Project: In partnership with PHMC, all children are screened to assess if
they have been properly immunized. The PHMC nurses conduct health screenings for
children, pregnant woman, and complete TB screenings.
Domestic Violence: Families and Single Woman are assessed to determine if they are
victims of Domestic Violence. Staff work with the household to assess where they can be
placed and connect them with Women Against Abuse to develop a Safety Plan.
Prevention/Diversion: On site at intake, a Homeless Prevention specialist is assigned to
assess household’s eligibility for prevention or diversion services. The Intake Social Worker
determines whether the household has income but needs financial assistance to obtain
housing, and or, needs assistance with staying in their homes.
After-Hours Reception Sites
OSH funds three after-hours locations that operate after 4pm at the following Emergency Housing
Facilities: the Red Shield serves only families with children; House of Passage services only single
females and Station House operates after-hours for single adult men. Each of the sites uses the
HMIS to sign-in households or individuals in need of emergency housing placement. The afterhours site is responsible for assigning placement across the OSH system where beds are available.
The household is required to return to the respective OSH Intake the next morning.
Continuing Intake Needs
At present the AFC is responsible for providing intake and assessment services to single woman and
families with children. In February 2011 we were able to separate the single woman from families in
the after-hours sites. It is our hope to do the same for the Centralized Intake at the Apple Tree
Family Center.
In the month of January 2011, 300 single women presented at the AFC. The average number of
woman placed in emergency housing in one year is 515. At present, 88 new women present at the
AFC for services monthly. It is our position that the population requires a separate intake from
families to address their unique needs and are hopeful to create in the future.