Resources
Local Resources
The Philadelphia Resilience Project
In October 2018, Mayor Jim Kenney signed an executive order to combat the opioid crisis. This order activated 35 City offices for a joint emergency response to the epidemic.
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Beacon of Hope New Day Drop-in Center
2659 Kensington Avenue
http://tinyurl.com/pdq9ker
New Day Drop-in Center is a welcoming, trauma-informed sanctuary for women exploited by the commercial sex industry. At New Day, women are free to tell their story and reclaim control of their lives. Located across the street from the Community Center at Visitation.
Cast Your Cares
http://www.castyourcares.org
Working to meet the physical and spiritual needs of the homeless, needy families, and neighbors in Kensington.
Covenant House
http://www.covenanthouse.org
Helping homeless kids in Philadelphia.
Dawn’s Place
ahomefordawn.org
Offering housing, long-term healing and rehabilitation services for women affected by commercial sexual exploitation.
Friends of Visitation
http://www.friendsofvisitation.org
Through community outreach programs, fundraising and marketing this organization provides support for the students of the Visitation School and the surrounding neighborhood.
Impact Services
http://www.impactservices.org
Helping people find and obtain employment, offering free GED, ESL and computer classes as well as childcare and housing.
Inner City Missions at the Cora Women Center
http://www.innercitymissions.org
Catering to the needs of families, children and youth on a local level, this organization seeks to help people experiencing drug abuse, violence, and other consequences of poverty in Kensington.
Last Stop Clubhouse
http://sct.temple.edu/blogs/murl/2010/10/04/kensington-on-the-road-to-recovery
Recovery house for alcohol and drug addicts.
My Sisters Place
(215)727-1640
My Sisters Place is a drug & alcohol rehabilitation center with a primary focus on substance abuse treatment based at 5601 Kingsessing Avenue in Philadelphia, PA. The treatment center provides residential long-term treatment care. There are special groups and programs for pregnant and postpartum women.
Pathways to Housing
https://pathwaystohousingpa.org
The mission of Pathways to Housing PA is to transform individual lives by ending homelessness and supporting recovery for people with disabilities. Housing First – As Simple as it is Revolutionary.
Philadelphia Brotherhood Rescue Mission
http://pbrm.org
Helping the homeless and rebuilding lives since 1908, this organization provides food, clothing and shelter for people who wish to overcome their addictions.
Philadelphia FIGHT
https://fight.org
Philadelphia FIGHT Community Health Centers provide culturally competent comprehensive primary care, and state of the art HIV primary care to low income members of the community, along with research, consumer education, advocacy, social services and outreach to people living with HIV and those who are at high risk, including family members, communities with high rates of HIV, formerly incarcerated persons, and young people at risk; and access to the most advanced clinical research in HIV treatment and prevention.
Prevention Point Philadelphia
https://ppponline.org
Advocating for social justice, this organization offers services and support individually to reduce the harm associated with substance abuse and prostitution.
Project Safe
safephila.org
A grass-roots organization working to improve conditions for sex workers through providing non-judgmental support services and education about safe sex practices.
Rock Ministries
rockministry.us
Interacting primarily with juveniles at risk, Rock Ministries provides counseling for young men and women who face a variety of pressing social issues.
Safehouse
Safehouse is a privately funded Pennsylvania nonprofit corporation whose mission is to save lives by providing a range of overdose prevention services.
safehousephilly.org
St. Francis Inn Ministries
stfrancisinn.org
Helping the poor and homeless of Philadelphia, this organization serves meals, clothing and hospitality to people while helping to restore hope and dignity in their lives.
National Resources
SAMHSA
https://www.samhsa.gov
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) is the agency within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services that leads public health efforts to advance the behavioral health of the nation. SAMHSA’s mission is to reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.
Women Organized Against Rape
http://www.woar.org
Providing free counseling for women, men and children who have experienced sexual violence via specialized treatment services and prevention education programs. WOAR offers support and advocacy for survivors.For free counseling services please call the 24 hr rape hotline 215-985-3333
Urban Survivors Union
http://ncurbansurvivorunion.org
Empowering people who use drugs. Demand your human rights. Over 70,000 people died of overdose last year and over 2.2 million are in prison for non violent drug offenses right now. The nation continues to double down on tough drug war approaches event though they continue to create more harm. The American Drug Supply is poisoned with Fentanyl and this is one of the reasons we see the escalating overdose crisis. It only takes ten, 50 gallon barrels of Fentanyl to supply the entire US for one year. Interdiction will never stop Fentanyl from coming to the US. We must understand that we will never stop the drugs from coming in the US. WE MUST DEVELOP and CREATE innovative strategies such as drug testing centers, legal heroin clinics and safe injection facilities. ” CONNECTION IS THE OPPOSITE OF ADDICTION” – Johan Hari
We have been here for the people in Kensington, We have always kept a low profile.We encounter these brothers and sisters and will continue. you are welcome to put up our information on your site. “Inner City Missions” & Cora Women Center. 2439 Kensington Ave,
215-634-6635
I just wanted to say that i really respect this project. As a resident of Philadelphia, a photographer and an ex heroin user, I think it is very important to showcase what is going on around here and the world in regards to the drug addiction lifestyle and what it does to you. It is a profound project and I wish you luck in developing it. It makes me want to do more to help addicts. I have lost people to dope and probably every day someone in Philly loses someone to drugs. I wish someday the blog could end because there is no one else to interview but sadly that day will never come. Awareness, empathy and the moving beauty of your art are assets to this community and I thank you.
Jeffrey,
I was on the ave for 3-4 years. I’m not sure what your purpose is , to reform or Christianity reasons, but I am actually starting a blog about my life on the ave and was searching for an image of the el to post and came across your site. I have some wonderful material that I’d like to share. Throughout all the drug abuse my memories are very clear. I will be checking your site often now.
This project is great. I grew up not to far from Kensington but my family owns a business under the El for over 50 years. I have been witness to so much of what you write about, had encountered these people and even welcomed them into my family. When you are in it everyday its easy to start thinking of these people as things with no thoughts or feelings “just a junkie”my my mom would say. It’s easy to become numb to the human condition when you are smack dab in the middle of it but you give these people names, voices, and in my opinion purpose. You make others see the world from a different side and maybe somebody’s life will be better because of it. Keep on and bravo.
There is a new center called The Beacon of Hope Drop-in Center. We are located at 2646 Kensington Avenue. We cater to women sexually exploited within the commercial sex industry. Your blog is amazing and if you run into any women needing services please send them our way! Thanks!
Hello!
I have contacted you once before about the Beacon of Hope Drop In Center. I wanted to update you and inform you that now we are New Day Drop In Center under the Salvation Army. We opened a new location in June 2014. Our address is 2659 Kensington Avenue, directly across from the Community Center at Visitation.
New Day Drop-in Center is a welcoming, trauma-informed sanctuary for women exploited by the commercial sex industry in the Kensington neighborhood of North Philadelphia. At New Day, women are free to tell their story and reclaim control of their lives.
My name is Kelsie Patton, feel free to email me with any more questions or concerns kpatton10@gmail.com.
Thanks! And love your blog!
Hi I think it’s great what you did I saw you down there and you even asked me a couple times to tell my story I never did but I should have you add something special to these peoples lives you give them a name and a voice they hurt trust me I was one of them but there is hope if you saw me now back in my own area where I belong you would not bealieve it was the same man you told me if I did not leave I would be gone well im still here and ill never forget you or youre work thanks
I really admire this page and wish it would get the recognition it deserves. – Please try to update more often, i get email notifications when you add to it and i race right over. Very enlightening project, very raw and real. – There’s nothing like it right now and I think it sheds the light on addiction that people try to pretend isn’t there.
Thank you for sharing.
Keep posts and updates coming.
Also, I would love to see some success stories if any.
Thanks again,
Maria
Thanks Maria. Pls check out Krista’s story here: https://kensingtonblues.com/category/krista/
[…] list of resources for those seeking help can be found on the Kensington Blues Resources […]
I’m a woman you photographin 2011. Not sure when, but I would love to see all that you have done accomplished and wish to accomplish. Maria asked for an update, maybe a success story. I would love to meet with you when I come down. Mary
Hi Mary, I tried to email you but it looks like the address is wrong. Please email me at jeffreystockbridge@gmail.com