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Dilworth Park art installation highlights Philly’s homeless youth

‘Am I Cut Out?’ represents 546 homeless Philadelphians

Last year, 546 homeless Philadelphians 21 years or younger were turned away from Covenant House Pennsylvania.

Today, those 546 homeless youth are represented via black cut-out silhouettes currently on display at Dilworth Park.

"Am I Cut Out?" is a one-day pop-up art installation put together by Covenant House Pennsylvania, the only shelter in the city that serves 18- to 21-year-olds. Specifically, they provide shelter for runaway, homeless, trafficked youth, and young mothers and children.

But last year, it had to turn away those 500-plus homeless because the shelter only has 51 beds.

546 homeless youth were turned away from Covenant House last year

City-wide, there are 388 beds for homeless youth.

The installation was created in order to raise awareness about Philly’s homeless youth, which is a serious problem and has recently received national attention. Approximately 1 in 20 high-schoolers in Philly have experienced homelessness—and many of them are LGBTQ.

The installation is at Dilworth Park today until 4 p.m., and it’s something you have to see in person to really feel its power. But if you missed it, here are some photos from earlier this morning.

Dilworth Plaza

15th and Market Streets, Philadelphia, PA