During a Bridging Blocks event at the Free Library of Philadelphia, participants discussed homelessness, rising rents, landlord accountability, and solutions shaping the city’s housing future.
The Bridging Blocks program brings together households from diverse cultural and political backgrounds to engage in civil dialogue and foster mutual understanding. This project is an initiative of WHYY, the region’s leading public media organization, in collaboration with the Free Library of Philadelphia and other partner organizations.
The April 15 conversation, held on the fourth floor of the library, focused on the social issues surrounding homelessness, rising rents, and the significant challenge of purchasing a home—key factors fueling the city’s housing crisis. According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, homelessness in Philadelphia increased by 9.8% from 2023 to 2024. What systemic forces are driving the housing crisis, and what barriers prevent Philadelphia from resolving it?
Participants discussed the lack of regulation for landlords and insufficient protections for tenants. At the same time, they highlighted the housing assistance work and benefits offered by Esperanza, a nonprofit organization based in the Hunting Park neighborhood, as well as Philadelphia City Council legislation aimed at improving tenant living conditions in 2025 and 2026—particularly the Safe Home bill introduced by Councilmember Nicolas O’Rourke.
One of the dialogue participants was Geraldine Churchwell, founder and CEO of Circle of Life, Inc. a transitional housing project for people experiencing homelessness. Having lost her own home and lived in a shelter, she now dedicates her work to helping others without stable housing. Crystal Morris also contributed her perspective as a real estate agent.
Dialogue tables included Tamara Russell, creator of Revive Radio; investigative reporter Meir Rinder of Billy Penn; and Aaron Moselle, a reporter covering housing and community development for WHYY. Attendees of this free event received information about the City’s Fair Housing Commission, the Philadelphia Tenants Union—which organizes tenants to confront abusive landlords—a Know Your Rights fact sheet for renters, and other community resources.