800 Voter Registration Identification cards had arrived in the mail at 802 North Broad Street. Roosevelt Darby, Deputy Director of Philadelphia Committee to End Homelessness (PCEH) recalls that a visit from a city official soon followed. Once the commissioner realized the cards arrived at the PCEH Day Center, and that the center was providing a legitimate civic good, suspicion turned into cooperation. Since that incident some years ago, similar relationships have developed throughout Philadelphia. These relationships ensure that homeless people retain their constitutional right to vote.

Darby cautions, “It’s one thing to register. ...but the fact is that these folks must really buy into the process; they need to pull the lever in their own interest.” Darby credits Project H.O.M.E. for its Vote for Homes campaign. The Vote for Homes Coalition provides voter registration, voter education, candidate forums, and election-day transportation.

“One barrier to registration is not knowing what your rights are,” says Jennine Miller at Project H.O.M.E. Assistance is available for voters with weak literacy or English language skills. People who have completed their release after a felony conviction, awaiting trial, and serving time for a misdemeanor can vote.

Voter registration must be submitted 30 days before an election. The deadline for the November 6, 2007 election is October 9. Voter registration forms are available in government offices, but Darby suggests that people ask a familiar organization for help with registering. A mailing address is required to register. PCEH (802 N. Broad), St. John’s Hospice (1221 Race Street), and a number of churches and shelters allow the use of their mailing address for voter registration.

Within a few weeks the Voter ID card should arrive in the mail. If not, contact the County Board of Elections (in Philadelphia: 215- 686-1505). With a Voter ID card in hand, the polling site address, and trusted information about the issues and candidates on the ballot, the person is ready to cast a vote.

Now in his seventeenth year at PCEH, Darby emphasizes that the franchise was “a right hard-won by blood, sweat and tears.” Through those years of service he learned that “to effect real change, you need political will.”

Innovative national campaigns are generating that political attention. This year, mayoral candidates in Nashville participated in a forum on Homelessness and Housing. Then the candidates were asked to “Take the Urban Plunge” by shadowing a homeless person. On August 15, 2007 the Executive Director of the National Coalition for the Homeless issued an “Open Invitation to Presidential Candidates” to “Take the Urban Plunge” as well.

Representative government is a two-way street. If people want candidates and government officials to respond to the issues that concern them, they need to participate in the political process.