West Philadelphians are served by a vast array of social programs, but fragmentation is a problem. Duplication of services should be avoided.
The Planning Commission will develop a comprehensive information system containing data on the location and delivery of human services in West Philadelphia.
Introduction
Ultimately, the purpose of any urban planning process is to insure a better quality of life for city residents. More attractive neighborhoods, better organized commercial areas, and an efficient public transportation system are only means to this end -- a community or a network of communities in which people can raise their families in safety, find employment, educate their children, and meet basic needs, such as health care.
This part of The Plan for West Philadelphia focuses on human development and related "people" issues. It reviews the status of important public services in West Philadelphia such as the public schools, medical care, public safety, and non-governmental community based services. Efficient and cost-effective delivery of these services in any community -- and certainly in West Philadelphia -- is essential if the community is to remain viable and stable.
West Philadelphia is a community with significant concentrations of poverty and certain special populations that are particularly at risk. As is the case nationally, female headed households here are disproportionately poorer than the rest of the population. The elderly poor, especially the very old, are victimized by crime, malnutrition and inadequate medical care. West Philadelphia has a significant population of recent Asian and African refugees seeking to acclimate themselves to a new culture and a new way of life. As Philadelphia plans for West Philadelphia, it must develop innovative ways of meeting these special needs.
| webmaster@partners.upenn.edu |