This organization has an 85% housing retention rate
For more than a year, Jolene* was living on Emerald Street in the encampment at the intersection of Emerald and Lehigh Avenue. She felt that the underpass there was the safest place she could stay and sleep while struggling with homelessness and drug use. She wasn’t aware of any other options for someone in her situation.
But in December, Pathways to Housing PA offered to move Jolene into her own apartment. Pathways, which uses the housing-first model and a harm reduction approach to serve people experiencing chronic homelessness, told her she didn’t need to stop using drugs before she moved in.
Jolene accepted their offer, and now her days are busy with recovery, traveling back and forth from therapy sessions and health care appointments. Her home gives her the foundation needed to heal.
