OUR JOURNEY FROM NEW YORK CITY TO 1221 BAINBRIDGE STREET
In June 1998, a long-time homeless advocate in Philadelphia saw a news clip on Good Morning America about the award winning Ready, Willing & Able (RWA) program founded and operated by The Doe Fund in New York City.
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Within hours, the program's founder, George T. McDonald, received a phone call and plans for RWA-Philadelphia were underway.
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With support from the Philadelphia Office of Emergency Shelter Services (now called the Office of Supportive Housing) and the Philadelphia Workforce Development Corporation, RWA opened with 70 beds and a work-training center in 2001.
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In 2018, RWAP joined Urban Affairs Coalition, which remains our fiscal sponsor. With all administrative and support services in Philadelphia, we are proud to have fully Philly-focused mission, program, and services.
In 2022, our primary funding moved from Philadelphia’s Office of Homeless Services to the Office of Addiction Services, and almost overnight our program changed from “transitional housing” to “recovery housing.” Recovery is now our primary mission, supported by the structure of our original work program.
The challenge:
Seventy-five percent of people incarcerated in Philadelphia each year have a substance use disorder. (WHYY)
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Our solution:
Our goal for returning citizens, as with all our participants, is long-term recovery and a life of sober choices.
