Bethesda at Spruce Street

Bethesda at Spruce Street is a supportive housing project located on Spruce Street and Cypress Street in Philadelphia. The development involved the moderate rehabilitation of two existing buildings—one three-story and one two-story—totaling 9,188 square feet. The project provides 16 Single Room Occupancy (SRO) units for formerly homeless individuals with special needs, along with a two-bedroom resident manager’s unit and 970 square feet of shared community space.

This initiative directly addresses a critical priority in the City of Philadelphia’s Year 26 Consolidated Plan—increasing permanent supportive housing options for homeless individuals with special needs. With an estimated unmet need of 6,692 permanent housing units for this population, the Bethesda at Spruce Street project plays a vital role in reducing homelessness, advancing social equity, and contributing to the City’s broader economic development and community health goals.

While no units in this development are fully accessible to individuals with physical disabilities, Bethesda Project provides accessible housing at other locations within its portfolio.

Stone Sherick Consulting Group (SSCG) provided key leadership in financing and development consulting for the Bethesda at Spruce Street rehabilitation project.

As trusted advisors, SSCG worked closely with the Bethesda Project team to:

• Secure critical financing, navigating public funding channels and preparing documentation consistent with the City’s housing priorities.
• Align the project with the City of Philadelphia’s Consolidated Plan, ensuring that all elements—supportive services, housing needs, and facility improvements—met eligibility and priority requirements.
• Coordinate the rehabilitation strategy, integrating project feasibility, cost-effective design, and compliance with funding source requirements.
• Facilitate approvals and stakeholder coordination, including the Certification of Consistency from the City’s Office of Housing and Community Development.

Through SSCG’s expert guidance, the Bethesda at Spruce Street project was positioned to enhance the City’s supportive housing landscape, offering safe, dignified, and service-enriched housing for some of its most vulnerable residents. Their strategic role helped ensure the project was financially viable, programmatically aligned, and community-focused.