Support For Folk Facing Criminal Charges

Participatory Defense is community support and empowerment for people and their families facing criminal charges. Participatory Defense Hubs are like support groups where community members who have faced and are facing criminal charges and people trained in how to navigate the complex criminal justice system gather once a week to support one another through their cases.

They are not legal clinics. Instead community members draw from their experience to help one another best advocate for themselves. Sometimes this support looks like showing up to one another's court appearances or helping to put together biography videos to help the judge see you as an individual who is valued by their family and community, not just a list of charges. For more information and to find a hub near you, click here.

Addiction Services

ODAAT is dedicated to serving low-income and homeless men and women and their families in the Philadelphia area who are afflicted by addiction and HIV/AIDS.

One Day At A Time Recovery, Inc. offers drug and alcohol services to individuals seeking shelter and support in their recovery efforts. To learn more about ODAAT, visit their website here.

Food Resources

Founded in 1996, the Greater Philadelphia Coalition Against Hunger strives to build a community where all people have the food they need to lead healthy lives. Their website has a great searchable map of food resources all over the region including soup kitchens and pantries. You can even search by days of operation. Check it out here. 

Health & Dental Clinics

Philadelphia FIGHT has a variety of community health centers offering a wide spectrum of care including pediatrics, dentistry, care for folks with and at risk of contracting HIV, family planning & reproductive health, and mental health. Visit their website for a breakdown of their clinics and contact information. 

Re-Entry Services/ Case Management

The Center for Carceral Communities provides free, psychosocial services that also address education, housing, advocacy and primary care to people impacted by the criminal justice system. They also provide case management and connections to many resources like employment assistance, counseling, etc. Visit their website here. Or call ​267-538-0180. Or drop by their offices at 4020 Market Street.

The Institute for Community Justice is a comprehensive prison services and reentry program providing health linkages, supportive services, education, and advocacy for individuals, families and communities impacted by mass incarceration.

A program of Philadelphia FIGHT, ICJ is a great place for folk coming home from jail to connect to needed resources. Give them a call at 215-525-0460 or visit their office at 1207 Chestnut St 2nd Floor Monday to Friday from 9am to 5pm. Visit their website here. 

Emergency Housing & Shelter

Broad Street Ministry's mission is to transform our city, our institutions, and ourselves when we embrace the individual needs of our most vulnerable sisters & brothers.

Broad Street Ministry practices radical hospitality and offers a plethora of resources in addition to emergency winter shelter such as health clinics and nursing care, mental health support, mail services, clothing, reentry support, legal services, and case management. BSM is also a collaborative partner with the Philadelphia Community Bail Fund. They can be reached at 215-735-4847. Visit their website here. Or visit them at 315 South Broad Street.

 The mission of the Project HOME community is to empower adults, children, and families to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty, to alleviate the underlying causes of poverty, and to enable all of us to attain our fullest potential as individuals and as members of the broader society. In addition to housing, Project Home runs youth programming, adult learning and workforce development, and other resources.

For emergency support, contact their Homeless Outreach Hotline at 215-232-1984. Their Where to Turn guide also offers a wealth of shelter, emergency housing, food and other resources. Download the latest guide here. Visit their main offices at 1515 Fairmont Avenue.