Philadelphia's battle against homelessness and addiction is getting a new champion, as Isabel Ames McDevitt takes the helm as executive director of Community Wellness and Recovery Centers. The Chestnut Hill resident will spearhead the Parker Administration's "Wellness Center Initiative," transforming how the city approaches recovery and housing support.

The appointment comes at a critical time. According to Philadelphia's Office of Homeless Services, the city saw its third consecutive annual increase in homelessness in 2024, with 5,191 individuals experiencing housing insecurity. The winter of 2024 brought a stark 38% increase in unsheltered homelessness, rising from 706 individuals in 2023. Those staying in emergency shelters, safe havens and transitional housing also increased by 5%, from 4,019 to 4,215 people.

"Cities all across the U.S. have to deal with these issues, but we have an all-hands-on-deck approach with new ways of tackling the problems," McDevitt said. "A lot of cities use a one-size-fits-all approach, but we don't. Our team does things differently, and I believe the results will be transformative."

At the heart of the initiative is the Riverview Wellness Village, a sprawling campus on Street Road in Northeast Philadelphia. The city-owned property, which fell into disrepair since its acquisition in the 1960s, is undergoing extensive renovation to serve as recovery housing for people with substance use disorder. Currently home to 10 residents, the facility expects to reach its full capacity of 336 people by late spring. The staff is still in development.

"We're bringing together multiple services for recovery, wellness and nutrition," McDevitt said. "People experiencing homelessness will work directly with service providers to get the care they need."

The vision for comprehensive care stems from McDevitt's extensive background in social services. Growing up in Portland, Maine, she volunteered at a local soup kitchen, where she first witnessed the pervasiveness of homelessness. "It should not be tolerated in a wealthy community," she said.

After graduating with the highest honors from the University of Pennsylvania in 1998, where she majored in sociology, McDevitt built an impressive career addressing social challenges. From 2012 to 2021, she served as Chief Executive Officer for Bridge House in Boulder, Colorado, managing 70 permanent staff members and 94 trainees while developing job training and housing programs for homeless individuals.

"It grew from a small program to a major housing model and service provider," McDevitt said. "The model was similar to what we're doing now, but that was nonprofit, and this is government. I'm excited. We are very focused on wellness."

Her earlier work included serving as Director of Community Affairs and Business Development for the Doe Fund Inc. in New York City from 2000 to 2010, overseeing program development for housing and other initiatives. Her efforts have earned recognition from the United Way, Bank of America, Boulder Chamber of Commerce and other organizations.

Though she was born in Maine, McDevitt's Philadelphia roots run deep. Her father hails from Chestnut Hill, her mother from the Main Line, and her husband, Ed McDevitt, is a Chestnut Hill native. Ed, a former triathlete who qualified for the Hawaii Ironman World Championship nine times, now serves as Senior Vice President for the McDevitt Wealth Management Group.

The family's 2018 move to Philadelphia has only strengthened their commitment to the city. "When we told our friends in Colorado we were moving to Philly, they thought we were crazy," McDevitt said. "Since then they've visited us, and they cannot believe what an amazing place this is. There's such a great mix of things here — a wonderful community, nature, the Wissahickon, excellent small businesses and restaurants. McNally's is my favorite, and we love Jansen for special occasions."

The connection to Philadelphia extends to education as well. Ed serves on the board of Springside Chestnut Hill Academy (SCH), where both Mayor Parker and McDevitt are parents of current students.

The appointment aligns with Mayor Parker's executive order signed Jan. 2, 2024, directing city officials to be more proactive in "accessing every available resource to restore communities where homelessness, gun violence, substance use disorder and undiagnosed, untreated mental health issues have destroyed lives in once-safe and beautiful neighborhoods."

"The mayor is passionate about creating opportunities for the marginalized," McDevitt said. "She's proactive in helping people in need so that neighborhoods can thrive by providing shelter and behavioral health. This is a targeted effort to coordinate efforts, fill in the gaps and provide new services."

For more information about the Community Wellness and Recovery Centers, email CWEU@phila.gov.