Homelessness is up in Allegheny County, official reports

Homelessness is increasing in Allegheny County, according to Allegheny County Department of Human Services Director Erin Dalton.

“We’ve seen increases in both sheltered and unsheltered homelessness,” Dalton said, explaining that people in transitional housing also count toward the number of sheltered homeless.

In total, she said, there are about 900 homeless people in Allegheny County. About 150 of them are unsheltered, she told Pittsburgh City Council members Tuesday.

Department of Human Services data from February 2022 showed the county had about 880 homeless people last winter, and about 105 were unsheltered.

“We’re obviously very concerned about people and trying to meet their needs,” Dalton said.

Dalton said officials are working to ramp up crisis services and provide necessary resources for people experiencing homelessness. She said the department is also offering incentives to local landlords who could provide housing for homeless people who are transitioning through the county’s support programs.

Dalton also provided council members with an update on conditions at Second Avenue Commons, which she described as a “state-of-the-art” homeless shelter that opened in Downtown Pittsburgh in November.

The year-round shelter has about 90 beds, plus 43 single-occupancy, apartment-style rooms. The shelter also offers various programs and a primary care clinic operated by UPMC.

Within a week of opening, the shelter was at capacity and using additional overflow space.

Dalton said officials have since been able to shut down that extra overflow area, which held about 45 people during the winter months.

She said staffing levels at the shelter are stabilizing and 911 calls from the site have decreased in recent months. She said there had been 911 calls about issues ranging from overdoses to mental health emergencies.

She said officials also are considering the potential to ramp up security, though there is already security at the shelter’s door.

“There were some growing pains, but the team did really well to integrate a whole lot of people right away,” Dalton said.