Philadelphia's latest move in tackling the city's homelessness crisis comes with the recent appointment of Cheryl Hill as the Executive Director of the Office of Homeless Services (OHS). With over 30 years of experience in the homeless and housing sector, Hill's resume is replete with notable tenures, including a stint at Project HOME and a key role as the Director of Compliance at the Atlanta Housing Authority. According to an article published by the City of Philadelphia's official website, one of her most significant contributions has been the development of HUD-50058 during the 2008 housing crisis, a regulation that worked to prevent tenant evictions.
In her first public remarks since taking over, Hill stated her goal to not only combat but to end "chronic homelessness" in the city. Her strategy involves fostering mixed-income neighborhoods and easing the concentration of poverty. As Hill put it, "My vision welcomes mixed-income neighborhoods or neighborhoods with a mix of market-rate and affordable housing. We want to connect people to housing and focus on deconcentrating poverty in Philadelphia." Hill is also keen to take inspiration from successful initiatives in other cities, citing Houston's Navigation Centers as a model to potentially emulate in Philadelphia.
Hill's leadership approach is grounded in the trust and support of her staff, coupled with an openness to challenge and a desire for collective progress. "I am here to support the team, but it's also important not to micromanage them. I am a leader who is open to pushback because it encourages growth and evolution alongside the community we serve," Hill explained in her interview with Olatunji Coleman of the OHS communications team.
Yet, Hill is no stranger to the complexities of her role, and she anticipately acknowledges the difficulties ahead, particularly the resistance from the "not-in-my-backyard" or NIMBY mindset. Hill accepts that this resistance, coupled with her goal to add housing, is likely to create "growing pains" but emphasizes the positive communal impact of such developments, saying, "We ultimately encourage neighborly love." Her proactive stance extends to her team, for whom she champions innovative thinking and a break from traditional procedures. "I do not believe in following a procedure simply because it’s precedent," Hill said and added that she thrives on technology and aims toward a more streamlined delivery of services.
As Philadelphia maneuvers through its persistent housing challenges, eyes will surely remain glued on Hill and her actions at the helm of the Office of Homeless Services.
