Phila.'s 'Mother Theresa' speaks at Newman

The "Mother Theresa of Philadelphia" spoke at the Penn Newman Center Tuesday afternoon to a small but enthusiastic audience. Sister Mary Scullion, the founder of Project HOME -- an organization that provides affordable housing for the homeless -- came to speak about issues related to homelessness, its causes and the work she has done to alleviate it. "There is something wrong with our culture and society that allows a large amount of people to be homeless," she said. She said that homelessness is solvable by having faith in God and by using resources of the mind. Scullion said that she believes there are generally four reasons people become homeless: mental illness, drug and alcohol addiction, AIDS and physical problems and disabilities. She also said that the homeless need help in four major areas, including education, employment, health care and of course, housing. Through education and beginning levels of employment, homeless people can "build the skills necessary to make livable wages," she said. She cited access to health care as critical for homeless people who are mentally ill or have physical disabilities. Scullion said she mostly works to supply the homeless with affordable housing. For example, St. Columbus, located at 41st and Chestnut streets, is a facility for drug-addicted men who have not yet begun recovery from their addictions. Project HOME also manages a facility on Diamond Street in North Philadelphia which is a "clean and sober house" for men who are recovering from homelessness. These individuals pay 30 percent of their income as rent and are responsible for the care and maintenance of the house. In addition, at Project HOME's new facility, located at 1515 Fairmont Avenue in North Philadelphia, there is a restaurant and bookstore run by the residents of shelters. There is also a thrift store called "Daily Threads" that offers affordable clothing to the community, while creating jobs for the formerly homeless. Scullion said that Wharton students helped Project HOME develop the thrift store as one of their first community service endeavors. Project HOME also runs an outreach program in which volunteers drive around and try to encourage homeless people to come into shelters. "Over time, most people will come in," she said.