Montgomery County authorize a lease agreement during a Dec. 19, 2024 council meeting for a new “short term supportive housing facility” on Main Street in Lansdale. (MediaNews Group)
Montgomery County commissioners have made it clear they intend to continue addressing homelessness throughout 2025.
Addressing staff, community leaders and nonprofit executives, commissioners talked during the State of the County address on Feb. 18 about continuing to make progress to mitigate the homelessness crisis in the state’s second wealthiest county.
“All three of us, when we took office, our goal was to attack and address the homelessness throughout Montgomery County head-on, and I think as three commissioners, we’re doing that,” said Republican Commissioner Tom DiBello.
Remarks at last month’s event held at Montgomery County Community College focused on a myriad of benchmark topics and goals that elected officials said they aim to reach in the year ahead.
Ongoing concern
Homelessness has been an ongoing topic of concern as the county has been without an operational homeless shelter for the past 2.5 years following the closure of the Coordinated Homeless Outreach Center.
Operated by the Philadelphia-based Resources for Human Development, the facility served as the largest and main homeless shelter for single adults in Montgomery County. CHOC was located on the grounds of the Norristown State Hospital, and that land was conveyed to the Municipality of Norristown for development.
The nonprofit RHD still provides services to those in need. Currently, the organization is offering shelter to 37 people in a Montgomery County hotel, according to Christina Jordan, program director RHD’s Montgomery County Homeless Services.
Officials have long attributed a number of factors for the area’s uptick in homelessness, including the COVID-19 pandemic, destruction of some housing in Hurricane Ida flooding in 2021, increased cost of living, and lack of affordable housing stock. It’s been a long-term goal to alleviate the burdens of homelessness, which Montgomery County Commissioners’ Vice Chairwoman Jamila Winder said began with an affordable housing summit last spring.
“Last year, we brought over 100 stakeholders together for a summit on affordable housing to collaborate on real, workable ideas, and the results of those efforts so far are tangible,” she said, noting several programs related to affordable housing, including the MontcoForward Loan and Whole Homes Repair programs.
Temporary shelters
The county ramped up efforts to aid homeless persons during inclement weather periods by expanding “Code Blue” operations. Established shelters are expected to provide 186 beds, and assist people in Lansdale, Norristown, Pennsburg, Plymouth Meeting, Pottstown, according to county officials.
“There are now more beds, more locations and more nights of sheltering operations during cold winter months,” Winder said, crediting partnerships with nonprofit organizations.
Montgomery County previously signaled intentions to invest in infrastructure solutions after earmarking $10 million in the 2025-29 capital improvement program fund over the next five years for a homeless shelter. Officials also entered into lease agreements for a supportive short term housing facility in Lansdale and hotel rooms in Pottstown.
“This Lansdale transitional housing facility will house approximately 20 individuals in rooms designed to uphold dignity and respect, and this will reduce the number of unsheltered individuals in Lansdale by 50 to 75 percent, and this is thanks to a collaborative partnership with the borough of Lansdale and the operational support of RHD,” Winder said.
Eagleville plan stymied
The nonprofit had proposed a supportive short term housing development project on the grounds of Eagleville Hospital. However, Lower Providence Township officials paused proceedings in late April following staunch public opposition by township residents.
“No one wants any of these facilities in their communities. I get it. However, we have to do something as a society,” DiBello said. “We have to do what we can to help these individuals that have ended up in a situation through no fault of their own.”
“It’s not like they woke up one day and decided I want to be homeless,” he continued. “So we have to do what we can to help facilitate providing the services, whatever … is needed to help these individuals get back on their feet.”
DiBello was involved in negotiations related to the Pottstown hotel venture that leased at least 62 hotel rooms for people experiencing homelessness in the Pottstown area. The county also authorized a $1.5 million agreement with the Reading-based Opportunity House, securing “emergency housing operations and support services” to people occupying hotel rooms.
Towns bear brunt
While homelessness is evident countywide, areas of Pottstown and Norristown have often seen larger concentrations of unhoused populations. Advocates estimate around 120 people are currently experiencing homelessness in the Pottstown area.
“This is a huge step that we’re taking in Montgomery County to deal with one of the big hot spots,” DiBello said.
In Lansdale, RHD will act as the provider agency after securing a roughly $2.7 million contract. A previously issued request for proposal requested services at “up to three potential sites” in Montgomery County.
While Winder couldn’t share specifics associated with the plan, she disclosed in a December interview ahead of the Lansdale announcement that officials have had conversations with municipal representatives in Norristown, Pottstown and West Norriton Township.
“There is still so much more to do to reduce homelessness and expand access to affordable housing,” Winder said. “We are actively exploring additional proactive strategies, including a master leasing program, where the county aims to lease 60 housing units to families in need, and we’re working with other municipalities in this very room to bring more resources to those in need across the county.”
“I’ve set a goal of adding at least two more shelters or transitional housing facilities in the next year with programs like this, [so that] we can create pathways to success, opportunity and dignity, but none of this progress would be possible without strong partnerships,” she continued.
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