The Philadelphia Inquirer featured Public Health Management Corporation’s Medical Respite at the PHMC Public Health Campus on Cedar.
Opened in 2023, PHMC Medical Respite on Cedar offers 20 beds and provides shelter and essential medical care for Philadelphians experiencing homelessness after a hospital stay. An additional 20 beds are available at the PHMC Medical Respite at Serenity Court, a facility in North Philadelphia that opened in 2014. They are the only respites of their kind in the city, serving as a critical link in the continuum of care. Both facilities consistently operate at full capacity and maintain waiting lists.
“We know that 40 beds for an entire city doesn’t meet the need,” said Jake Becker, PHMC’s Managing Director of Health Services. “We would love to be able to step up our capacity for services to bridge even more of the gap.”
The respites help patients with a wide range of medical conditions, from diabetes complications and surgery recovery to ongoing cancer treatment. Staff care for basic medical needs and arrange transportation for higher level care. They also connect patients with other services, like housing assistance or substance use treatment. In addition to hospital beds and care, the Cedar respite offers a cafeteria and group meeting areas for patients.
A typical stay at PHMC’s respites is about 60 days, though some patients stay longer. Staff say the goal is to find them consistent housing by the time they leave.
