Care of Strangers 

Our Care & Counsel Committee is largely responsible for helping people unknown to the Meeting who call or come to the Meeting requesting help. The following provides some useful guidance and resources for Meeting members, attenders or staff who may be approached by someone. 

For phone calls and emails that come in through the Meeting Office (or happen in person):
Please continue to alert the clerk of Care & Counsel by sending an email to the clerk with the person's name and phone number, with a 1 or 2 sentence description of their need. (If the clerk needs more detail, she will reach out to you.) A volunteer from the Meeting will try to call them back within 24 hours and will share community resource information.

If 24 hours is longer than they can wait, please refer them to the crisis resources below: 

For Housing, Food Assistance, and Financial Crises: 
Call "211" or contact this link: PA 211 - Get Connected. Get Help. Free information hub that connects with housing, health, human services (dial 211)- assistance for housing, utilities, emergency shelter
For Severe Mental Health Distress:
Call "988 .
If the person does not want to call 988, please ask them to call one of the local resources below, depending on where they live. 
1. The Delaware County Crisis Connections (Mental Health) Team is a resource that is accessible twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, even on holidays.  They are a free service for any family who needs immediate assistance and can be reached at 1-855-889-7827.
2.Montgomery County Mobile Mental Health Crisis (855) 634-4673
3. Philadelphia Mental Health Crisis
 For Adults: 215 951 8300
For Children/Teens:  877-287-4620

For Non - Emergencies:
Please send the person's name and a phone number to the clerk of Care & Counsel. Let them know that a Meeting volunteer will try to call them within 24 hours and will attempt to share information about resources in the community.The clerk or another member of Care and Counsel will contact the person and will attempt to help them using the attached lists of resources.

HOMELESSNESS RESOURCES ON THE MAIN LINE
Family Promise of the Main Line - Phone: (610) 277-0977-based in Norristown, PA- https://fpmainline.org/
Family Promise Montco PA - Ambler, PA · (215) 628-2334
Family Promise Montco PA | Addressing Homelessness & Hunger
 
HOMELESSNESS RESOURCES IN PHILADELPHIA
Homelessness Prevention InfoLine – 215-686-7177
Call PA 2-1-1 (see above)
Housing Choice Voucher – rental assistance (looks like a federal program) 202-708-1112 
Family Promise of Philadelphia – crisis, prevents eviction, finds shelter 215-247-4663
Sweat Equity Programs – like Habitat for humanity – in Montgo and Delco – 610-427-8539       
         
FOOD BANKS AND FOOD PANTRIES –   WEST PHILADELPHIA AREA
People’s Fridge – 125 S 52nd Street – 24 HOURS – no phone
Salvation Army – 5501 Market Street – 215-474-1009
Faith Chapel Baptist – 4720 Woodland Avenue – 215-724-5144
Bible Way Baptist – 1323 N. 52nd Street – 215-477-0778
Church of the Holy Apostle – 260 S. 51 Street – 267-908-3287
Share Food – 2901 W. Hunting Park – 215-223-2220
Good Samaritan Church – 6148 Lansdowne Avenue – 215-877-7537
Church of Christian Community – 6121 Cedar Avenue – 215-472-9040
Episcopal Community Services – 325 N. 39th Street – 215-351-1400
People’s Emergency Center – 325 N. 39th Street - 267-777-5880
West Philadelphia Grocery Help – 4527 Haverford Avenue –
                                                     215-222-5707
Episcopal St. Barnabas Mission – 6006 W. Girard Avenue –
                                                   215-528-5400
St. Ignatius of Loyola – 636 N. 43rd Street – 215-386-1058
Helping Hands – 1511 N. Hollywood Street – 267-780-6553
Hope PHL – 325 N. 38th Street – 267-777-5868
 
A Searchable online resource: findhelp.org