"Move Along" 5K Run & 1 Mile Walk

We picked the name “Move Along” to allude to the ongoing issue of people who are experiencing homelessness being forced to move out of public places. This is something that can be seen in legislation, architecture, and public opinions around the country. As recently as last year, the Supreme Court ruled that cities are allowed to ban people from sleeping outside and on the streets [1]. This is incredibly harmful as it is actively stripping people in these situations of their ability to find somewhere to sleep. Movements have also pushed for what is known as “hostile architecture,” which involves physical barriers being built in order to prevent people camping or sleeping in a public space [2]. This can take many forms, including removal of benches and installation of leaning benches, placement of planter boxes to block open areas, or even raised pieces on flat surfaces to make it uncomfortable to sit or lay on.

Another recurring problem for people who are experiencing homelessness is "sweeps." These are where police officers and/or other city workers will kick people out of an area to "clean it up" [3]. This is not only dehumanizing for the individuals who are displaced but also harmful to their well-being. In these hasty moves people often lose important documents such as birth certificates, social security cards, and personal identification, which makes it significantly harder to file for public assistance, land a job, and get back on their feet. There are also countless stories of people who have lost medications, mobility aids, or other medical necessities, as well as irreplaceable sentimental items such as  photographs of loved ones and family heirlooms. "Sweeps" also confiscate and trash items that people experiencing homelessness need for survival, such as sleeping bags, blankets, and tents. The term "sweeps" itself reinforces stigma and undermines dignity and respect for people experiencing homelessness. Further, consistently being told to "move along" and vacate public areas, but without providing safe spaces in shelters or affordable housing, leaves a very important question unanswered - "move along" to where? [4]

We are using this event as a way to bring awareness to these issues in a meaningful and proactive way. We cannot stand idly by as people in our country are treated so inhumanely. We want to reclaim the term "move along" and turn it into something positive. By helping people experiencing homelessness now, we can help them to someday be able to “move along” to more stable housing and to a better future.

References

[1] J. Ludden, “The Supreme Court says cities can punish people for sleeping in public places,” NPR, Jun. 28, 2024. https://www.npr.org/2024/06/28/nx-s1-4992010/supreme-court-homeless-punish-sleeping-encampments

[2] the Neighborhood Design Center, “Understanding Hostile Architecture: the Cause and Effect of Restricting Public Space,” The Neighborhood Design Center, Oct. 02, 2023. https://ndc-md.org/news-and-stories/understanding-hostile-architecture-the-cause-and-effect-of-restricting 

[3] R. Levi, “Homeless camp sweeps can harm health. some cities are trying a new way.,” Tradeoffs, https://tradeoffs.org/2025/11/20/homeless-camp-sweeps-can-harm-health-some-cities-are-trying-a-new-way/  (accessed Nov. 24, 2025).

[4] Foscarinis, M. (2025). And Housing for All: The Fight to End Homelessness In America. Prometheus. ISBN‎ 978-1633889767.
 

Mission: 

Covenant House PA (CHPA) builds a bridge to hope for young people experiencing homelessness, human trafficking and other systemic injustices through unconditional love, absolute respect and relentless support. Our doors are open 24/7 and our high quality programs are designed to empower young people to rise and overcome adversity, today and in the future. Covenant House is the largest provider for youth experiencing homelessness in Philadelphia and the only one exclusively supporting youth ages 18-21. Supportive services include street outreach, medical and mental health, and career and education. Learn more at https://covenanthousepa.org/.