A member of the Sisters of Mercy, whose vows include caring for the poor, sick and uneducated, Sister Mary Scullion received the 1991 Philadelphia Award for her steadfast service to the homeless in Philadelphia. Local officials called her “the good sister” and “a gift to Philadelphia,” while women helped by Scullion said, “She never gives up on you.” and “She’s fought so hard for us.”

Committed to ending homelessness, Scullion co-founded Woman of Hope in 1985, the OutreachCoordinationCenter in 1988, and Project HOME (Housing, Opportunity for Employment, Medical Care, Education) in 1989. Serving mentally ill homeless women, Woman of Hope provides permanent residences and support services. The OutreachCoordinationCenter integrates the services of public and private agencies to more effectively administer help to the chronically homeless. Project HOME provides affordable housing, job training and health care to homeless and low-income individuals. More than 95 percent of those helped by Project HOME have avoided a return to homelessness, “a success rate [making] the program a model for dozens of other U.S. cities.”