PHILADELPHIA — For Beatrice Tolbert, the Wardrobe is somewhere she can see people who are looking forward to seeing her.
Stepping inside, the shop near Fourth and Callowhill Streets looks like a typical thrift store. Strappy sandals, knee-high boots, and conservative flats are displayed on tables in front of racks of work clothes, casual wear, and second-hand accessories. But the Wardrobe has a mission: to empower vulnerable groups, including those who've been impacted by the criminal justice system and are looking for a new lease on life — starting with a new look.
"When I first entered and received help from them, I was destitute, indigent, and I lived on the streets," Tolbert said. Today, she's PHA housing voucher recipient No. 1,075. Tolbert will be in the first cohort of voucher applicants expected to receive the subsidized housing.
