County-City Partnership Leads to Closure of Last Encampment in Pittsburgh’s Central Business District
More capacity in winter shelter system and success of 500 in 500 has helped unhoused neighbors find shelter and permanent housing
PITTSBURGH – Allegheny County Executive Sara Innamorato and City of Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey today highlighted progress to reduce unsheltered homelessness in the county, emphasizing the success of collaborative initiatives that have expanded access to shelter, services, and housing. These efforts led to an elimination of encampments in Pittsburgh’s central business district, following the recent transition of individuals from the Eliza Furnace Trail encampment into more stable housing.
County Executive Innamorato said: “Grappling with homelessness is incredibly challenging work, and the only way we’ve been able to make such significant progress is through collaboration. Collaboration with the City of Pittsburgh, advocates, our County Department of Human Services, shelter providers and more are all part of the network that is working hard to address this issue which has been a problem for city’s nationwide over the last five years. But together we’ve made great progress in an impressive reduction in encampments across Pittsburgh and we’re finding successfully finding shelter and housing for our neighbors who are struggling.”
"Through the power of collaboration, we've been able to transform the Eliza Furnace Trail into a beacon of hope. Together the City and County have worked to find real solutions to the issue of unsheltered homelessness, finding credible offers of housing for our unhoused residents so that every Pittsburgher has a safe and dignified space to call home," said Mayor Ed Gainey. "This is a critical moment for our city – one where I believe we must move past empty rhetoric and truly answer the call to push Pittsburgh towards fulfilling that promise of being a city for all. I’d like to thank County Executive Sara Innamorato and the County’s Department of Human Services for partnering with us in this work, as well as the Department of Public Works and our ROOTS Team in the Office of Community Health and Safety. Together, we are creating a city that truly reflects the values of opportunity, equity, and justice for all."
The impact of these initiatives is visible citywide, with a notable elimination of homeless encampments in Pittsburgh’s central business district. In recent months, a coordinated effort involving the Allegheny County Department of Human Services (DHS), the City of Pittsburgh’s ROOTS program, Bridge Outreach and advocacy groups including members of Our Streets Collective, National Union of the Homeless, and Community Care & Resistance in Pittsburgh successfully closed the encampment by connecting individuals at the Eliza Furnace Trail encampment located behind the Allegheny County Jail with individualized housing plans, resources and services. Through this approach, residents staying on the trail transitioned to housing without the need for a formal decommissioning.
Closing encampments without simply displacing or relocating people requires housing options that people will accept. The winter shelter system was expanded to bring more than 200 additional beds online this winter, but the real success of moving people from the trails came through providing acceptable housing alternatives.
A strong collaborative effort between multiple city and county departments, private sector developers and philanthropy, has allowed the 500 in 500 campaign to open up nearly 200 additional units of permanent and affordable housing. 500 in 500 has already permanently housed 278 people, which also leads to more flow in the shelter system. More than 50 additional units are in the development pipeline for 500 in 500 as well.
For those seeking assistance, the County shelter system has capacity. For a full list of the county’s shelter locations for single adults, visit: https://connect.AlleghenyCounty.us/get-help-now. To access family shelters, please contact the Allegheny LINK at 1-866-730-2368.
For property owners or managers interested in making units available for individuals exiting homelessness, please contact Chuck.Keenan@AlleghenyCounty.us.
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