Philadelphia, our nations fifth most populous city but also a city full of poverty, homelessness, unemployment, crime, and levels of low education. Over spring break I went on the service learning trip that gave us the opportunity to team up with Habitat for Humanity for the weatherization and building of homes. It was an amazing and eye opening experience. When arriving in Philadelphia and driving through the outskirts, the images were so surprising. Abandoned houses, homes that were worn down, and literal alley ways that comprised a block were what we passed. We had done some research beforehand but actually seeing it in person had a huge impact on us. While there we helped with the repair of a woman’s home who had been without heat all winter and helped build two houses, which was awesome. It was truly an eye opening experience and the service we did only makes me want to do more.
On our last day we went on the tour of the monuments of Philadelphia; and the discrepancies among what we worked with and what we saw were huge. The city itself is beautiful; full of art, culture, and so much history. It was quite interesting to hear on the tour that a 70 million dollar renovation for an ice skating rink and train system was being done in front of the city hall. What about the 26.7 percent of Philadelphians classified as poor? What about the 329 homicides in the past year? What about the fact that Philadelphia has one of the highest rates of child poverty in this nation? Where is the money for these statistics that can help rise Philadelphia out of the situation is it is?
While in Philadelphia, we also discussing how these factors are occurring in our own backyard. An estimated 21 percent of New Yorkers are classifies as poor and the gap between rich and poor is continually widening. The number of homeless each night in the NYC shelter system is 50,135 and that figure is missing those who are on the streets. On a daily basis we see someone who is affected by homelessness and there isn’t a single face of this population; it can affect anyone. There is such an emphasis on going to another city or country to give assistance, when in addition there is so much help needed right here. The following pictures are from Far Rockaway prior to Hurricane Sandy. You can see the issues affected housing that represent that neighborhood and others of New York City. Changes cannot occur over night, but being aware of these issues and wanting to make change is a start.
