"Kudos to the Fairmount Park Commission, the City of Philadelphia and Ready, Willing & Able!" wrote the Friends of Cresheim Valley. Together they have made a positive difference along Cresheim Valley Drive. The grounds are cleaner, neater and more attractive for us to enjoy."

That's because the formerly homeless men of Ready, Willing & Able - dressed in their bright blue uniforms - are in and around the park, cleaning up litter and performing needed landscaping tasks, like clearing weeds, gutters and overgrown brush. They also remove debris, broken glass and leaves in Love Park and Washington Square; clean the steps and fountains of the Art Museum; clear the jogging path along Kelly Drive and vacant lots all over town; and sweep and bag trash on parts of Broad Street, South Street and in the neighborhood surrounding the Bainbridge Street facility, keeping it cleaner and safer for all who live and work there. For their efforts, they are paid $5.50-$6.50 an hour, from which they pay affordable rent and save money. After work, they are offered an array of educational and supportive services, including drug counseling and life skills, job preparation, basic education and computer classes. The goal is to prepare them to find and keep permanent jobs and housing when they complete the 9-to-12 month program. Twenty-one "men in blue" have already made the transition successfully and many more are on their way.

The beauty of Ready, Willing & Able is that it solves several problems at once. Not only does it lessen the number of homeless people on Philadelphia's streets, it also reduces street crime, welfare rolls and criminal recidivism. Add to that the fact that it restores dignity to human beings and beauty to Philadelphia's historic areas and landmarks and, I'm sure you'll agree that Ready, Willing & Able is a sensible, compassionate and cost-effective approach to ending homelessness.

Ready, Willing & Able-Philadelphia is a true public/private partnership. The City of Philadelphia provided the funds for start up and the first few years of operation, with the understanding that the people of Philadelphia would appreciate the efforts of the "men in blue" and pitch in to keep the program going and growing. I'm so glad you visited our new website to learn more about the program. I hope you like what you see and will consider joining us in our efforts to end homelessness in Philadelphia. I promise, you'll see the results of your involvement every time you drive into or stroll around the streets of your city, in the form of fewer homeless people and a more beautiful environment for residents and visitors to enjoy.

Please come to visit our Bainbridge Street facility to get a true sense of the spirit of Ready, Willing & Able. And, please, keep your eyes out for the "men in blue." Talk to them. Thank them for the efforts they are making on behalf of themselves and the "City of Brotherly Love." You have no idea how much your words of interest and appreciation mean to them and motivate them to succeed.

All the best,

George T. McDonald
Founder and President