The issue of homelessness is an international issue. It is an issue we all have, and we all must confront, in the way our societies are structured. This was a point I was able to make this week when an international coalition seeking solutions to homelessness visited Philadelphia and toured some of the places trying new and innovative ways to combat homelessness.
We're honored that one of their stops as RHD's Woodstock Family Shelter.
At Woodstock, families can stay together, children remain with their mothers. People can survive, and thrive, in difficult circumstances.
It was a wonderful event at Woodstock (there was even salsa dancing, courtesy of the consul general of Panama). You can read more about the fact-finding trip to Woodstock, headed by the vice mayor of Athens, Greece, here.
We're honored that Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter attended. One of our residents who works on One Step Away, Philadelphia's first street newspaper, brought some copies to show the mayor and our foreign guests. Mayor Nutter has always been a great friend and advocate for homeless issues, and he happily made a donation to One Step Away and received a copy of the paper.
Equal Dollars Community Currency is helping One Step Away get started (you can read about that effort, and other ways Equal Dollars is stimulating economic activity in the community, here). It's just another example of ways in which we can work together toward a common goal. Because, as always, we are in this together, and these challenges face us all.