When neighbors look out for each other, everyone is safer.
PLEASE REPORT CRIME
If a crime is in process, please call 911.
Don’t assume that someone else has already called.
911 alternatives
Some emergencies—like those involving addiction, children and youth, domestic violence, sexual assault, houselessness, or mental health needs—may be handled more effectively by agencies dedicated those issues. If you have time to consider 911 alternatives, please do so. Many service providers have 24-hour hotlines. For an expanded list including housing, legal and immigrant resources, visit The Kensington Voice.
Services marked ⬤ are dedicated for young people.
Addiction
If you see someone overdosing, call Prevention Point Philadelphia at 215-634-5272. If you can’t reach Prevention Point, call 911.
The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has a 24-hour helpline for people facing mental and/or substance use disorders. Information and referrals to treatment facilities, support groups, and community-based organizations. English and Spanish. Call 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
Pennsylvania/Philadelphia Drug & Alcohol Office & Helpline provides 24-hour help finding a treatment provider or funding for substance use disorder treatment. English and Spanish. Call 888-545-2600.
Prevention Point Philadelphia operates a drop-in center that provides shelter and connections to social and medical services, including HIV and HCV testing and free medical clinics. Call 215-634-5272.
Pathways to Recovery is an outpatient facility for addiction and mental health assistance at 2301 E Allegheny Avenue. Call 267-765-2385.
Child abuse
⬤ Pennsylvania Child Abuse Hotline is for reporting cases of suspected child abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services. Call 800-932-0313.
⬤ Philadelphia Children’s Alliance provides screenings to children for abuse, neglect, and sexual exploitation, as well as mental health, medical, and counseling services. Call 215-387-9500.
Domestic violence & sexual assault
Philadelphia Domestic Violence Hotline is a 24-hour hotline staffed by four domestic violence agencies—Congreso de Latinas Unidos, Lutheran Settlement House, Women Against Abuse, and Women in Transition. Call 866-723-3014.
Women Against Abuse provides 24-hour emergency safe havens up to 90 days for survivors of domestic violence (all gender identities) and their children. Case management, behavioral health services, child care, and other supportive services, including 24-hour security and transitional services. Call 215-386-1280.
Women Organized Against Rape (WOAR) provides free services to children and adults who have experienced sexual violence. Trained 24-hour hotline crisis counselors provide support, answer questions, and provide referral guidance. Crisis advocates provide medical accompaniment, explain the reporting process, provide information about the criminal justice system, and connect victim/survivors to WOAR services and outside services as needed. Gender and disability inclusive. Call or text 215-985-3333.
Houselessness
Philadelphia Homeless Outreach Hotline is Philadelphia’s 24-hour connection for people experiencing houselessness or otherwise in need of shelter. Call 215-232-1984.
For walk-in access to city-run shelters, visit the Office of Homeless Services website for locations. Additional services, including mental health assessments, referrals to drug or alcohol treatment, health care, and legal, veterans, or children and youth services, are provided as needed.
⬤ Covenant House is a Christian crisis shelter for youth up to age 21, with 24-hour phone and walk-in services. Basic medical needs and other necessities are provided on-site. Call 215-951-5411.
Project HOME provides permanent, subsidized housing for individuals and families who had been houseless. Residence programs include recovery programming. Accessible units are available. 24-hour phone line: 215-232-7272. Project home also publishes Where to Turn, a printable flier that lists meals, showers, housing, and other houseless resources.
⬤ Valley Youth House’s Synergy Project outreach program assists youth up to age 21 with survival supplies (food, clothes, hygienic products, sleeping bags, tents, tarps, etc.), peer support, informal counseling (individual, family, or group), information and referral services, and assistance to get off the streets, if desired. Call 888-468-7315.
⬤ Youth Emergency Service (YES) offers immediate housing and respite to youth age 12-17 facing housing insecurity or who are unable to live safely with family. On-site medical care, education support, youth-centered activities, links to resources and support to continue or get reconnected with school. 24-hour phone line: 215-787-0633.
LGBTQ+ support
⬤ The Attic Youth Center is the only organization in Philadelphia exclusively serving lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning (LGBTQ) youth. Comprehensive risk counseling, HIV prevention, support groups, and case management for medical, legal and emergency services. Call 215-545-4331.
BlackLine is a hotline for peer support and counseling, reporting of mistreatment, and affirming the lived experiences to folxs who are most impacted by systematic oppression with an LGBTQ+ Black Femme Lens. Call or text 800-604-5841.
Colours Organization Inc. provides support to LGBTQ+ people of color. Call 215-832-0100 or email msessions@coloursorganization.org.
Mazzoni Center provides services to the LGBTQ community including primary medical care, mental health counseling and substance abuse treatment services, legal services, HIV prevention & care. Call 215-563-0652.
SAGE’s National LGBT Elder Hotline offers services to LGBTQ+ people who are 50 and over. Call 877-360-LGBT (5428)
Mental health
Community Behavioral Health manages behavioral health care for Philadelphia residents who receive medical assistance from the state of Pennsylvania. Call the 24-hour CBH Referral Hotline at 888-545-2600. TTY: 888-436-7482.
Mental Health Delagate Line is a 24-hour hotline that can also send out Mobile Crisis Team who come to the caller’s location and assess the person in crisis. If the team determines that the person needs treatment, they will transport them to the nearest CRC. Call 215-685-6440.
NAMI Philadelphia Warmline offers talk support to people experiencing mental health difficulties. Call 267-687-4381.
⬤ Philadelphia Children’s Crisis Response Center provides 24-hour walk-in crisis services for children and young adults ages 3-17 who are experiencing a mental health crisis. Visit 3300 Henry Ave., Falls Center 2, Suite 3N, Philadelphia, PA 19129
Philadelphia Crisis Response Centers (CRCs) are 24-hour City walk-in centers at four hospitals. Access in-person care by going to the hospital emergency room and requesting the CRC. View a map with contact information.
⬤ Philly HopeLine is for students and families in the School District of Philadelphia. Free mental health counseling, grieving support, emotional wellness, counseling for COVID-19 related losses. Dedicated service hours for LGBTQ+ youth and Spanish speakers. Call or text 833-745-4673.
Suicide
Suicide Prevention and Crisis Intervention Hotline is a 24-hour City hotline at 215-686-4420.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a 24-hour national hotline at 988.
How to get Naloxone (Narcan)
Naloxone is a prescription medicine that reverses opioid overdoses. Note that in Kensington, as of 2023, most opioids are mixed with Xylazine or “tranq,” a powerful sedative. Narcan will not counteract the effects of tranq.
- A standing order prescription allows pharmacists in Pennsylvania to dispense naloxone without requiring an individual prescription.
- Philadelphians can get naloxone mailed to them by going to naloxoneforall.org/philly and watching a short video about recognizing and reversing an opioid overdose.
Community Based Crime Reduction
From 2018 to 2022 three Kensington and Fairhill nonprofits—HACE, Impact Services and NKCDC—came together to address community safety. Many aspects of the program continue with the support of community organizations.
Tips
To submit a tip to the Philadelphia Police Department, call 215-686-TIPS (8477), text 773847, or email tips@phillypolice.com. If you live in the 24th District, you also have your own tip line: 215-685-3281.
Include as many details as you can, such as the street address or names of any people you can identify. Include contact information if you would like the police to follow up with you directly. Use email to send photos or video.
If you don’t feel safe making a report, contact Katsí Miranda-Lozada at kmiranda-lozada@nkcdc.org or 215-427-0350 x122.
Learn about Crime on Your Block
To see a map of recent data for your area, please visit the City of Philadelphia’s Atlas, enter your address, and select the “Nearby” tab from the menu.
Get to Know Your Local Police
NKCDC’s service area is served by two police districts. Both host regular community meetings to report on their work and take questions from neighbors.
Join a Neighborhood Safety Group
What if it’s not an emergency?
Philly311 is Philadelphia’s system for dealing with any urban hazard that is not an emergency. This may include:
- Street issues like abandoned cars, fallen trees, potholes or traffic signal problems;
- Building issues like fire and safety violations, vacant buildings, structures in danger of collapse, or people doing construction without a permit; and
- Trash issues like graffiti, illegal dumping, missed trash or recycling collection, or messy vacant lots.
You can submit a 311 request by calling 3-1-1, emailing Philly311@phila.gov, or tweeting @philly311. You can also download the Philly311 app.