Since 2007, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Affairs (HUD) requires that local Continuums of Care (CoCs) conduct an annual point-in-time (PIT) count of people experiencing homelessness. SCOPE has been able to gage its impact through the implementation of PIT counts and monthly progress reports, which measure the level of engagement with the vulnerable populations.
An observational PIT count was conducted in January 2022, revealing a total of 562 individuals taking shelter on SEPTA’s systems. A similar PIT count was completed in February 2023, identifying 363 individuals. Based on these results, there was a 35-percent decrease of individuals taking shelter within SEPTA’s systems, due to the implementation of the SCOPE program. PIT counts will be conducted throughout the year to measure the impact of the SCOPE program and monitor the changing number of individuals experiencing homelessness within SEPTA’s systems.
Additionally, outreach teams deployed throughout the system engage with the vulnerable populations, track their interactions and record their plan of action. Monthly progress reports have been measuring SCOPE’s impact by recording the number of engagements, referrals, resource distributions and “warm hand-offs.”
| County | Unsheltered Count 2022 | Unsheltered Count 2023 |
|---|---|---|
| Bucks | 0 | 0 |
| Chester | 0 | 1 |
| Delaware | 95 | 41 |
| Montgomery | 19 | 16 |
| Philadelphia | 437 | 279 |
| Trenton TC | 11 | 26 |
| Totals | 562 | 363 |
SCOPE efforts have helped to decrease homelessness on the system by 35%.
SCOPE’s Progress, April 2023
In which an individual was guided off SEPTA’s system and possibly into services.
Where food, clothing, wound care, or transportation were distributed by SEPTA’s outreach teams.
Where individuals were referred for mental health, drug or alcohol treatment, shelters, or other social services.
In which SEPTA outreach teams physically connected a vulnerable individual with a social service provider.