Council and OHS debate street counts and outreach in Kensington as intake center opening planned

Council members repeatedly raised discrepancies between the Office of Homeless Services’ point-in-time counts and other tallies, and they pressed OHS and DBHIDS officials on outreach coverage in Kensington and at SEPTA stations.

David Hollerman, chief of staff for OHS, explained that police and OHS use different counting methodologies — the point-in-time (a simultaneous volunteer census) differs from police weekly observational counts — and that the city conducts quarterly counts with partners. Hollerman said OHS is working to align methodologies by stationing intake staff at the Kensington Wellness Resource Center and deploying mobile intake workers to produce more consistent, localized counts.

Council members described visiting SEPTA stations where entrances, elevators and stairways were blocked and said they saw no visible outreach staff. DBHIDS and OHS officials acknowledged coordination gaps with SEPTA, said SEPTA previously maintained a team the city relied on, and confirmed plans to increase outreach staffing in targeted areas and during overnight hours where people say they are most likely to accept services.

The exchange highlighted a persistent operational problem: counts drive resource allocation, but differing methodologies and seasonal fluctuations create public confusion and fuel skepticism among residents. OHS said it will continue working with law enforcement, DBHIDS and service providers to improve counts and outreach coverage and will provide more information in writing.