Editor’s note: This article was originally published before City Council approved the budget on Thursday, June 25. The headline is updated to reflect that the budget has been passed. The abrupt changes…
Nightly explosions and fireworks in Kensington leave veterans experiencing elevated PTSD symptoms
When Vietnam veteran John Tomys heard an explosion in Kensington last week, his first thought wasn’t of fireworks — it was of the Vietnam War. The 66-year-old’s heart raced, his eyes dilated,…
In Philly, how will the 2020 Census count people experiencing homelessness?
The last time Robert Clark filled out the United States Census form, he had a well-paying job, a house, and no criminal record. But in 2010, Clark lost his job, suffered an…
With youth program funding at stake, here’s how Philly is tackling the 2020 Census youth count
Philadelphia Superintendent William Hite Jr. knows the impact that a United States Census can have on children in a school district. In 2010, the U.S. Census undercounted 4.6% of the youth population…
Community, city respond after 16 businesses close in Kensington Avenue sweep
In the 25-plus years that Kip’s family has owned Martin’s Deli on Kensington Avenue, they’ve never experienced the kind of stress they did last week when city and state officials swept a…
More than a dozen businesses close on Kensington Avenue after failed inspections
*Editor’s note: An earlier version of this article misstated that Ramon Crespo’s last name was Cruz. At 9 a.m. on Tuesday, nearly two dozen police officers and Licenses and Inspections officials were…
Veterans guide: Where Philly veterans can get help with benefits, clothing, housing, legal assistance, and more
While reporting on veterans in Kensington over the last few months, we found resources available to veterans across the city. From the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) benefit entitlement assistance to city…
For many veterans, it’s easier to enlist in the military than it is to enroll in its benefits
When John Tomys was a teenager, he didn’t realize his decision to hot-wire a Mercedes would land him on the front lines of the Vietnam War. But it turned out the car…
New veterans’ housing facility in Kensington relieves pressure so residents can focus on their passions
As a child, Harry Wilson had a love for writing. But after he enlisted in the military in 1972, he began to write less and less over time. “Writing is so important,…
We asked dozens of Safehouse stakeholders the same questions
We interviewed more than 30 Safehouse stakeholders about their personal experiences with addiction, how they feel about the proposed overdose prevention site, and their ideal outcome for the overdose crisis in Philadelphia. Our…