The church in Philadelphia’s historic district began moving in residents to the 34-unit complex in March
Tahera Rahmani, Chris Shaddock and Colin Evans
There’s a trendy new apartment building in Old City, but it’s not on the market for everyone.
The five-story, modern complex on the corner of Race and 4th streets is reserved for people experiencing homelessness, an initiative by Old First Reformed Church providing “permanent supportive housing” with wraparound services for a population that often cannot find secure living arrangements.
The church began moving in residents to the 34-unit building in late March. The $22 million development in the middle of Philadelphia’s most historic mile reflects the role of faith groups in addressing the city’s homelessness crisis, which last year impacted more than 5,000 people counted in shelters and on the streets and countless others missed by the tally.
Old City’s relative wealth does not shield it from the housing crisis: Approximately 22 percent of residents in the census tract encompassing the church are classified as cost-burdened, meaning they spent more than 30 percent of their income on housing, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“We hope the stability and dignity of having a home will make a real difference,” said Kathy Sykes, a longtime member of Old First and co-moderator of the church’s oversight board.
The project has been in the works for nearly a decade as church leaders brainstormed how to expand a longstanding program that, in partnership with the Bethesda Project, provided temporary shelter and meals to people experiencing homelessness during the wintertime.
The apartments, described as private dorm rooms, are rented in proportion to the residents’ income, most of which comes from Supplemental Security Income or Social Security Disability Insurance, said Pastor Michael Caine. Residents receive medical care, mental health treatment, job assistance and help finding their next permanent housing from three full-time staff from DePaul USA, a national homeless services nonprofit.
“The whole idea is that you get stable, and then you can leave,” Caine said.
Tenants are selected from a list maintained by the city’s Department of Homeless Services of people who have identifiable disabilities. The apartments are available to all genders.
Michael Chandler was among one of the first residents to move in this spring. Recovering from drug and alcohol abuse that left him homeless, all he wants is to rebuild his life, he said.
“Being homeless wasn’t me,” he said. “It’s time to step up.”
Continuing outreach
Nestled in Philadelphia’s highest-earning ZIP code, where median rent exceeds $2,200 a month, the brick-sided building represents a continuation of Old First’s long history of homeless outreach.
The church first opened its doors to people experiencing homelessness in 1984, answering a call from Philadelphia’s mayor, Sykes said. At the time, Old First was among the first churches to step up, working with Sister Mary Scullion and the Bethesda Project, she added.
For many years, the church operated a wintertime program providing overnight shelter and meals for men experiencing homelessness. Around 2016, Old First began thinking about establishing permanent housing, and by 2018 was holding community meetings to gather input from neighbors, Caine said.
Residents said the apartment building was a good addition to the neighborhood – so long as the residents are receiving support beyond housing.
“I think there is a difference between having housing and being taken care of,” said Kyle Miller, who lives in Old City. “I think it’s great if there is a place for them to go, but are they taking care of them and giving them the resources they need?”
Stephanie Diem, another neighborhood resident, said she feels people experiencing homelessness need to be given a chance.
“We push back against a lot of things in this neighborhood, as far as developers and everything,” Diem said. “We have never pushed back against the church. What the church is doing, they’ve been doing it forever.”
The project was funded through a variety of subsidies and tax credits from city agencies, loans and a capital campaign paid for by church members.
“This project is a small example of the community and government working together for the common good to move the needle on providing more opportunities to meet the housing needs in Philadelphia,” said Councilman Mark Squilla, whose district encompasses Old City, via a statement.
Construction wasn’t without complications. The site of the apartment building is where the church rectory stood, meaning it – a rowhome from the 1760s – had to be moved down the street.
The future of the project’s supportive services is also uncertain as they are funded through a one-year federal contract ending in March 2026. With the Trump administration’s targeting of “housing first” policies and unpredictable funding changes at the federal level, Caine worries about the project’s long-term sustainability, he said.
“But now we’re here,” he added.
Chandler said he wants to keep himself together and do a lot of the things he hasn’t done.
“I’m a little nervous,” Chandler said. “I’m still gonna do it. I’m trying to get it together.”