Why Philadelphians are sleeping out at Citizens Bank Park

The big picture: Despite shedding its label this year as America's poorest big city, Philadelphia is still grappling with poverty-related challenges.

• Of the more than 300,000 city residents living below the poverty line, more than a quarter are children under 5, per census data.
• The Parker administration's recent budget includes major investments in affordable housing, but some city lawmakers say the plan still doesn't go far enough.

Driving the news: For the first time, the nonprofit Covenant House is hosting its annual Sleep Out event at Citizens Bank Park — part of a larger national fundraising campaign for local chapters to clothe, feed and shelter homeless youth.

• The event kicks off Thursday at 7pm with panel discussions featuring people affected by homelessness, plus appearances from former Phillies players, coaches and team owner John Middleton.

How it works: Bitter cold, empty stomachs, little protection from the weather. Participants bring their own sleeping bags and receive a small meal.

• Those are the only accommodations, since the Sleep Out mirrors the uncomfortable conditions faced by Philly's unsheltered youth.

By the numbers: The Phillies-backed event has already been a huge win for Pennsylvania's chapter, with more than 300 participants on pace to surpass $1 million in donations — beating the previous record of about $753,000 in 2023.

• Nationally, more than 65,000 people have participated in Covenant House's Sleep Outs since 2011, raising more than $170 million.

What they're saying: Bedrossian, a Havertown native who's taking part in his 13th Sleep Out (and first in Philly), tells Axios he received a rude awakening at his first event.

• One of the young speakers reenacted the dangers of sleeping on the streets — snatching Bedrossian's Jordans and tossing them over a fence.
• "I was like, 'What are you doing?' He goes, 'You don't take off your shoes when you're sleeping on the street. Someone will take them.'"

• "And I'm zipped up, and he kicks me in my side. He goes, 'And don't ever zip up. You're not going to be able to get out if someone attacks you.'"

Zoom in: Covenant House PA board member Monica Naim understands those struggles — and they inspired her to join the organization after she and her husband moved to Philadelphia a few years ago.

• The 35-year-old, who has exceeded her $20,000 fundraising goal, experienced homelessness as a teenager in North Carolina, bouncing between the streets and group homes.
• She once slept on the porch of her childhood home after her mother, who struggled with drug addiction, didn't come home.

Naim dropped out of high school, worked at a small pizza joint while earning her GED, and later put herself through college. She now works as a sales leader at a local company.

• What steeled her through her roughest days? Singing "You Are My Sunshine" — something her mom did for her and her sister on "good days."

"Small hinges move big doors," she says.