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Housing and Homelessness

Homeless Man
Housing and Homelessness

The Upper Perk Homelessness Coalition and the Open Link are working together to address homelessness in our community.

UPHC

Click to read our Code Blue 2025-2026 Impact Report!

We and the Upper Perkiomen Homelessness Coalition are thrilled to share the Upper Perkiomen Code Blue Shelter Impact Report for the 2025-2026 season. 

The shelter, located at Pennsburg United Church of Christ, returned for its second season in November 2025. This season, the shelter served 14 unique individuals between November and May, doubling the 7 served during the 2024-2025 season.  Despite this increase, several of last year’s shelter guests did not return because they obtained stable housing before the most recent Code Blue season.

While Montgomery County declared an official county-wide Code Blue 112 nights, the shelter was open for 88 nights, or 79% of declaration nights. Facing harsh weather within these declarations, there were 3 continuous Code Blue periods, with the longest lasting from January 11 to February 17.  The shelter hoped to be open for every Code Blue declaration, but sometimes needed additional volunteers than available to do so.

During shelter nights, guests ate meals prepared by local organizations, enjoyed a warm and safe place to sleep and shower, and were informed of The Open Link’s variety of programs and services, including its food pantry, benefits application assistance program, and financial assistance. Each night, Valley shelter guests and volunteers fostered an environment of support, community, and respect. Across the entirety of Montgomery County, law enforcement or medical intervention was required for less than 1% of Code Blue guests all season.

We and the Upper Perkiomen Homelessness Coalition would like to thank the 86 unique volunteers who served at the shelter this winter and the 25+ community partners who gave time, funding, dinners, and supplies to the shelter, including New Goshenhoppen Church, Red Hill Christian School, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Red Hill Fire Company Social Club, and St. Philip Neri. The Valley community’s support made this season possible.

The shelter plans to return for its third season beginning in November 2026. For more information regarding the shelter and updates regarding the 2026-2027 season, including volunteer opportunities, please re-visit this page in fall 2026!

In the meantime, here are some ways you can help during the upcoming 2026-2027 Code Blue season. 

  • Needed to help operate the Code Blue Shelter each evening. There will be four shifts: 7:30PM-11:00 PM (3 volunteers), 10:45PM-2:00AM (two volunteers), 1:45AM-5:00 AM (two volunteers) and 4:45AM-8:30AM (three volunteers). Volunteers will greet guests, serve dinner, oversee shelter during rest period, clean-up shelter each day, inventory supplies and interact with the unhoused. Training is provided. Clearances are needed. To sign-up, fill out the volunteer interest sheet.

  • Dinner will be needed each evening that the Code Blue shelter is open. If you and your group would like to prepare a meal for 10 to 15 people, please fill out the form on the Upper Perk Code Blue website by clicking Prepare A Meal above.

  • The Open Link is acting as the fiscal manager for donations related to the Code Blue shelter. If you would like to make a donation to support the shelter or those who are unhoused in our community, please use The Open Link's special donation link above. The Open Link is a 501c3 organization and all donations are tax-deductible as allowable by law and The Open Link is a registered charity with the State of PA.

  • The Open Link and the Upper Perk Homelessness Coalition create an Amazon Wishlist of needed items to open and operate the shelter for each season. Please check back in fall 2026 for the 2026-2027 Code Blue wishlist.

  • Homelessness is on the rise across the country and it is present here in the Valley. It is often misunderstood or based on stereotypes. In order to break the cycle of homelessness, we all need to advocate on behalf of those who are unhoused. The first step is to learn more about why someone becomes homeless, what are the barriers that keep them homeless, and how we as a community can help reduce or remove those barriers.

Our Impact This Year

  • Summer Kids Meals

    20,012

  • Volunteer Hours this Year

    9,415

  • Dollars Raised in FY2024-25

    $1,512,798

  • Pantry Pounds Distributed

    254,760

© 2026 The Open Link
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