Winter shelter to open for homeless in Downtown Pittsburgh

A winter shelter for people experiencing homelessness was scheduled to open Tuesday evening in Downtown Pittsburgh, Allegheny County officials said.

The seasonal, low-barrier shelter is slated to open temporarily to provide cold weather shelter until Second Avenue Commons — a new 45,000-square-foot, year-round shelter built Downtown — is open.

The temporary winter shelter, located at 620 Smithfield Street, will serve men and women from 7 p.m. till 7 a.m. seven days a week.

Second Avenue Commons is undergoing final inspections for its occupancy permit, county officials said. Pittsburgh city officials had previously estimated that it would be open by Tuesday.

The temporary shelter on Smithfield can accommodate 20 women and 50 men each night, according to county officials.

Only people who are staying in the shelter, shelter staff and clinical volunteers are allowed inside the shelter.

Staff at the shelter will work with the people staying there to begin the intake process so they can move into Second Avenue Commons once its doors open.

There will be meal services, along with access to showers and laundry, officials said. Services are provided by Pittsburgh Mercy’s Operation Safety Net and Community Human Services Corporation through a contract with the Department of Human Services.

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