• The Point-In-Time (PIT) Count, which the Office of Homeless Services (OHS) and Philadelphia Continuum of Care (CoC) conducted on February 25, 2026, found there were 5,163 individuals experiencing homelessness in the city. 

 

• Among those experiencing homelessness, 711 people who were living unsheltered were counted, meaning living or sleeping outside or at a location considered not habitable for humans. 

 

• This year, 4,452 people were experiencing sheltered homelessness — living in emergency shelter, transitional housing, or Safe Haven sites

 

• The 2026 Point-in-Time Count identified 154 veterans experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia on the night of the count.

 

• In March 2026, OHS celebrated the grand opening of HOPE 220: An Office of Homeless Services Solution Center. It adds more than 70 beds in a safe, comfortable, dignified, homelike setting, along with wraparound services including free primary health care provided by Jefferson Health, behavioral health case management, and direct access to permanent housing placement options.

 

The National Health Care for the Homeless Council's newest 2026 materials specifically identify cold-related injuries, heat-related injuries, skin disease, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, infectious diseases, trauma, hepatitis, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis as significant health concerns in the homeless population.

 

Homelessness creates serious health risks. Without a safe, stable place to live, people are more vulnerable to illness, injury, extreme temperatures, poor nutrition and difficulty managing chronic health conditions.

 

Why a scarf, socks, underwear, coats, hats and gloves aren't simply “nice donations”—they can address genuine health and safety needs.

 

You're not simply collecting warm things because they're comforting. You're helping provide protection against a genuine health hazard faced by people who don't have a home.

 

HOMELESSNESS IS A HEALTH ISSUE!

 

For a person without a safe and stable home, staying healthy can be a daily challenge. Exposure to cold weather can be especially dangerous for people who must spend long periods outdoors.

 

Cold Weather Can Be Dangerous

 

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who remain outdoors for long periods—including people experiencing homelessness—are at increased risk for hypothermia, a potentially life-threatening condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it.

 

Recent medical research reinforces this concern. A 2025 systematic review of 24 studies found that people experiencing homelessness who sleep outdoors face a greater risk of hypothermia, hypothermia-related injury, and death from hypothermia than the general population.

 

Cold weather can also cause frostbite, particularly to the fingers, toes, ears and face. The CDC recommends protecting these areas with warm, dry clothing when exposed to cold temperatures.

 

Why Warm Clothing Matters

 

A warm scarf may seem like a simple gift, but for someone without a home, warm clothing can provide important protection from the cold. Scarves, socks, hats, gloves, coats and other warm clothing help cover the body, reduce exposure to cold, and keep people warmer and drier.

 

Every scarf we collect is more than a scarf. It is warmth, comfort and protection—given directly to someone who needs it. You're helping provide protection against a genuine health hazard faced by people who don't have a home.

 

Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Preventing Hypothermia.

Akhanemhe R, Petrokofsky C, Ismail SA. Health impacts of cold exposure among people experiencing homelessness: A narrative systematic review on risks and risk-reduction approaches. Public Health. 2025.