Brackenridge homeless shelter clears zoning hurdle

The recommendation by Brackenridge Zoning Hearing Board for a former personal care home to operate as a homeless shelter is a step toward much-needed housing support in the Highlands School District, a former school board member said.

“We need to lift people up when they are down,” said Misty Woody, former president of the Highlands School Board.

“Maybe people aren’t aware, but we have people in our school community who sleep in their cars. This shelter is commendable, necessary and, ultimately, beneficial to the community as a whole.”

The borough’s zoning hearing board recommended use of the facility, being sought for purchase by the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches (AVAC), a Harrison ministry.

Situated in a largely residential area, the building at 903 Morgan St. operated as Applewood Personal Care home for nearly 25 years.

At a hearing last month, many spoke out in favor of the project but some residents had traffic and safety concerns.

Zoning board Solicitor John Arch said Brackenridge Council has 30 days to accept or reject the recommendation. Council meets next at 6:30 p.m. on Nov. 4 in the municipal building along Brackenridge Avenue.

“We are overwhelmed and excited,” said churches association Executive Director Karen Snair.

“We looked at a couple properties and none of them worked out. Now we know why. God had a plan.”

If the association receives council’s final approval, Snair said it will finalize the sale and start minor work to tailor the interior to its needs.

“We’ll do a little inside to fit it for use by families, but outside, it won’t look any different than it does now,” Snair said.

She hopes to be open by January.

As proposed, the property would be used only to house families with children, and no more than 30 people would live there at one time.

The building is configured for a group home setting, with 13 bedrooms, a kitchen and shared living spaces, said Alice Mitinger, the church association attorney.

There would be 24-hour supervision and security at night.

The Allegheny Valley Association of Churches, founded in 1958, has been providing temporary housing and support programs for families for nearly 30 years, mostly within its member churches.

Snair said the program has an 85% success rate of transitioning people to permanent housing.

Woody, the community development specialist for Allegheny Family Network, was one of about 50 people who spoke in favor of the proposal during a public hearing hosted last month by the borough.

“When the world shut down in 2020, all of our community came together to help those who needed it most, many who never needed help before,” Woody said. “At the center of many of these efforts was the Allegheny Valley Association of Churches. I’m very pleased that the zoning board digested the words of AVAC and those who know of their good work in order to approve this project.”

Snair said she was taken aback by the community support, but noted that she shouldn’t have been.

“We didn’t really ask that many people to come, but it was standing-room only, and then people were clear out in the hallway,” she said. “When there’s a need, the community comes out to support it.”