ON THAT CHALLENGE A TOUR INSIDE THE SECOND AVENUE COMMONS BEFORE IT OFFICIALLY OPENED A FIVE-STORY BUILDING A MULTITUDE OF SERVICES THAT GO BEYOND A TYPICAL COT AND HOT MEAL I’M EXCITED BECAUSE IT’S ALSO VERY INNOVATIVE THE TYPE OF WORK THAT WE’RE GONNA DO HERE IS GONNA ALLOW FOR GAPS AND CARE THAT IN THE CONTINUUM THAT AREN’T YOU KNOW AREN’T AVAILABLE. IT’S CALLED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE APPROACH TO ADDRESSING THE HOMELESS CRISIS BECAUSE FIVE GROUPS WILL WORK TOGETHER THAT INCLUDES PITTSBURGH MERCY ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES COMMUNITY KITCHEN PITTSBURGH SECOND AVENUE COMMONS AND UPMC GUESTS RECEIVING CARE OFFERING MEDICAL AND SOCIAL SERVICE RESOURCES AND A DAYTIME DROPPING SIR WITH WI-FI ACCESS. THERE ARE 95 BEDS IN GROUP SLEEPING ROOMS 43 SPACES FOR SINGLE. DEPENCY COUPLES AND PETS ARE WELCOME TO WHEN WE CREATE A SAFE SPACE FOR THE UNHOUSED. WE ALSO CREATE PUBLIC SAFETY FOR THE CITY AND THE COUNTY AND THAT IS SOMETHING THAT WE ALL. HAVE INTEREST IN AND I THINK THIS IS A WONDERFUL BEGINNING PICKING SOMEBODY OFF THE STREET THAT’S HOMELESS. THAT’S THE EASY PART. WHAT DO YOU DO WITH THEM ONCE YOU PICK THEM UP? THIS IS THE ANSWER YOU BRING THEM HERE. THIS HAS ALL OF THE SERVICES THAT SOMEBODY COULD NEED MENTAL HEALTH DRUG. WHATEVER THE PROBLEM MIGHT BE YOU COME HERE. YOU GET THOSE SERVICES. YOU DON’T GO TO JAIL YOU COMEPHE BACK ON TRACK. THAT’S WHY WE DID THIS AND THEY CONTINUE TO PUT THE FINAL TOUCHES ON THE SECOND AVENUE COMMONS. AS IT IS SCHEDULED TO OPEN IN TWO TO THREE WEEKS REPOR
Second Avenue Commons in Pittsburgh prepared to offer comprehensive services to city's homeless
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Updated: 7:12 PM EDT Sep 29, 2022
Government, business, civic and nonprofit groups were offered an open house tour of Second Avenue Commons on Thursday, fashioned as the most comprehensive place providing services to the homeless.Take a look inside: Watch the report in the video player above.In addition to group sleeping rooms, there are 43 single-occupancy rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, while pets are also allowed.UPMC and Allegheny County Department of Human Services will also work in the new downtown facility, providing medical and social services resources.Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will run a commercial-style kitchen, while Pittsburgh Mercy will operate the facility."I'm excited because it's also very innovative. The type of work that we're going to do here is going to allow for gaps in care in the continuum that aren't available," said Tony Beltran, CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy.Several financial institutions contributed to the $22 million facility, including $10 million from PNC Foundation, $6.75 million from Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, and $1.75 million from UPMC."This has all of the services that somebody could need - mental health, drug addiction, whatever the problem might be. You come here, you get those services. You don't go to jail. You come here and try to get your life back on track. That's why we did this," said Dan Onorato, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer for Highmark Health."When we create a safe space for the unhoused, we also create public safety for the city and the county, and that is something that we all have interest in, and I think this is a wonderful beginning," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.Second Avenue Commons is scheduled to open by mid-October.
PITTSBURGH — Government, business, civic and nonprofit groups were offered an open house tour of Second Avenue Commons on Thursday, fashioned as the most comprehensive place providing services to the homeless.
Take a look inside: Watch the report in the video player above.
In addition to group sleeping rooms, there are 43 single-occupancy rooms with refrigerators and microwaves, while pets are also allowed.
UPMC and Allegheny County Department of Human Services will also work in the new downtown facility, providing medical and social services resources.
Community Kitchen Pittsburgh will run a commercial-style kitchen, while Pittsburgh Mercy will operate the facility.
"I'm excited because it's also very innovative. The type of work that we're going to do here is going to allow for gaps in care in the continuum that aren't available," said Tony Beltran, CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy.
Several financial institutions contributed to the $22 million facility, including $10 million from PNC Foundation, $6.75 million from Highmark Health and Allegheny Health Network, and $1.75 million from UPMC.
"This has all of the services that somebody could need - mental health, drug addiction, whatever the problem might be. You come here, you get those services. You don't go to jail. You come here and try to get your life back on track. That's why we did this," said Dan Onorato, executive vice president and chief corporate affairs officer for Highmark Health.
"When we create a safe space for the unhoused, we also create public safety for the city and the county, and that is something that we all have interest in, and I think this is a wonderful beginning," said Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey.
Second Avenue Commons is scheduled to open by mid-October.
