Joyce’s Place
Joyce’s Place, a historic rooming house for actors during the heyday of silent film, was renovated to rehabilitate its dormitory-style rooms and common spaces as transitional housing. Today, Project HOME operates Joyce’s Place as a facility for their Women of Change Program, which provides safe haven shelter and supportive services for women (trans-inclusive) experiencing homelessness.
Upgrades to the building entrance, shared bathrooms, and corridor circulation allowed the first- and second-floors to be fully ADA-accessible. Common spaces consist of a lounge, a dining room, and an outdoor roof terrace—uncovered during the renovations and restored to use. A new commercial kitchen provides all meals for residents, as part of the support through the Women of Change program.
Window retrofits and new mechanical systems were designed and installed with the goal of maintaining the character of the original building. The rooms remained largely intact for the renovation, and room doors still bear the names of Philadelphia stage and silent film actors who originally lived at the house.
