Service hubs, multidisciplinary team credited with housing about 20 people after Jordan Creek eviction

Commission co‑chairs told committee members that city‑coordinated service hubs and a county multidisciplinary team helped connect dozens of people to services after the Jordan Creek encampment eviction.

Christina said the commission’s encampment committee organized several cleanups with city public works before the eviction and then worked alongside newly formed service hubs to link people to housing and treatment. "We organized 3 or 4 cleanups with the city's public works department... to clean up the garbage and also to find ways for the individuals in the community to throw out their garbage," she said.

On outcomes, Christina cited figures in the commission’s report and meeting discussion: 19 individuals were presented to the county multidisciplinary team, all 19 were connected to other services, and 11 were housed or moved to long‑term placements. Separately, she said Jordan service hubs resulted in about 20 people housed — including three veterans — four people sent to inpatient treatment and two moved to transitional housing; she characterized that as a major success following the eviction.

The commission credited the city’s unhoused coordinator, Daniel Mineo, with organizing the hubs and said the YMCA and faith community partners provided key drop‑in and meal services during the winter. The co‑chairs said the YMCA committed to continue hub operations through April despite an earlier planned closure.

Why it matters: Commissioners framed the hubs and the multidisciplinary team as life‑saving coordination for medically fragile people who otherwise face barriers to services. "This multidisciplinary team meeting is literally for anyone that is rough sleeping outside, that is at risk of dying," Christina said, and she noted the commission’s work grew from a response to multiple deaths among people living outside.

Limitations: The figures were presented by commission leaders during the meeting and the report; the meeting did not include independent documentation or representatives from all shelters and housing agencies. Commissioners also said some major providers (for example, certain shelter operators and the Allentown Housing Authority) do not regularly attend commission meetings or share standardized data.

Next steps: The commission plans continued service‑hub operations, further coordination with county partners and a scheduled briefing with the Allentown Housing Authority’s executive director.