PROBLEM WEIGHING HEAVILY ON THIS REGION? THIS IS SOMEONE SOME, THIS IS ANOTHER PERSON’S HOME. AND ANOTHER AND ANOTHER. COMMUNITIES OF ENCAMPMENTS. >> HOMELESSNESS HAS BEEN ON THE INCREASE. AND WE SEE IT GROWING ALL AROUND US. >> WE LEARN EACH ENCAMPMENTS SITE HAS ITS OWN NAME JUST LIKE PITTSBURGH’S NEIGHBORHOODS. IT’S JUST BASED ON THEIR LOCATION. THIS IS THE CASINO CAMP ALONG THE OHIO RIVER. >> HE’S PROBABLY NOT THERE BECAUSE HE’S GOT A SIGN OUT THERE. HIS SIGN IS OUT THERE WITH THE TENT HE’S NOT THERE. >> THIS IS THE STOP AND CAMP ON INDUSTRY STREET. >> THEY GOT THE FURNACE HERE WITH A PUT THE WOOD DOWN THERE AND SMOKE OUT THERE TO KEEP IT WARM IN HERE. >> AND THIS IS THE RIVER TRAIL CAMP ALONG THE ALLEGHENY RIVER. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE STEREOTYPE HOMELESSNESS AS THEY ARE JUST CITY DWELLERS, THEY DON’T WANT TO WORK, THEY ARE LAZY. NO, WE DON’T KNOW THE STORY BEHIND THE SCENES OF THEIR LIFE. >> PROFIT GROUPS SAY ADDICTION, MENTAL HEALTH, -- >> WHAT IS YOUR FIRST NAME? >> BRANDY IS THE WOMEN’S OUTREACH SPECIALIST RECENTLY THEY FOUND A HOMELESS MOTHER WITH HER HOMELESS CHILD. >> BOTH PARENTS ARE HOMELESS BOTH MOM AND DAD WITH A THREE WEEK OLD BABY. >> UNDER A BRIDGE? >> UNDER A BRIDGE. >> SENDING PEOPLE INTO HOMELESSNESS COURTNEY LOCKERBIE VISITED THE STOCKTON CAMP. SHE SAID SHE BATTLES MENTAL ILLNESS AND ADDICTION. >> MENTAL HEALTH IS A BIG ONE. THAT’S LIKE THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO ME IS MY MENTAL HEALTH. I HAVE MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES. I’M ON MEDS FOR THEM. >> THE CITY MUST EXECUTE A SYSTEMWIDE NETWORK OF GOVERNMENT AND PRIVATE SECTOR AGENCIES ADDRESSING THE SOURCE OF HOMELESSNESS. >> I KNOW THEY HAVE A CERTAIN PHILOSOPHY THEY’RE WORKING WITH, BUT WHAT I’M SAYING IS WE NEED A BROADER ONE, THAT WILL DEAL WITH EVERYONE, BASED ON WHERE THEIR TRUE NEEDS ARE. >> WHY PEOPLE ARE THERE AND HOW THEY GOT THERE IS COMPLICATED. >> CERTAINLY A COMPLEX ISSUE IMPACTING THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE. SO WE BEGIN LISTENING TO THOSE EXPERIENCING THIS PROBLEM FIRSTHAND AND SEEING HOW THEY LIVE. >> WE RECENTLY VISITED A PLACE KNOWN AS THE P RYAN A CANADA ALONG THE OHIO RIVER. ONE MAN SHOWING HIS STORY FROM HOW HE WENT TO LI -- FROM LIVING IN A TENT TO HAVING A ROOF OVER HIS HEAD. THIS IS CALLED THE P OR IN CANADA. KEVIN HAMILTON, GABE, BOTH HOMELESS. KEVIN, HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HOMELESS? >> PROBABLY CLOSE TO FIVE YEARS NOW. >> WHAT BROUGHT YOU HERE? >> TO HOMELESSNESS? A RELATIONSHIP THAT WASN’T GOING RIGHT. >> HOW ABOUT YOU, GABE? >> MICRO OUT OF -- MY GIRLFRIEND GOT OUT OF JAIL. I WENT TO PAY MY RENT AND MY CHECK BOUNCED AND MY LANDLORD KIND OF THREW ME OUT. >> SO IT’S SAFE TO SAY BOTH OF YOU ARE HOMELESS BECAUSE OF FINANCIAL HARDSHIP? >> YES, THE ONLY REASON. >> WHAT ARE THE US THE REASONS -- WHAT ARE THE OTHER REASONS SOME PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS OUT HERE? >> SOME PEOPLE JUST LIKE BEING OUT IN THE STREETS. >> SOME PEOPLE JUST DON’T WANT TO PAY BILLS. >> THEY CHOOSE TO BE HOMELESS. >> I WOULD RATHER HAVE A ROOF OVER MY HEAD. >> GIVE US AN IDEA OF THE SENSE OF HARDSHIP YOU CHILL WITH ON A DAY-TO-DAY BASIS. TELL US WHAT THAT LIKE. >> IT GETS HARD AT NIGHT BECAUSE IT GETS BETTER COLD. >> DO YOU NOT TAKE ADVANTAGE OF THE SHELTERS? >> I TRY TO BUT IF IT’S NOT THAT BAD I WOULD RATHER BE HERE. PEOPLE WILL STILL YOUR STUFF. --STEAL YOUR STUFF AND THEY ARE OVERCROWDED TO BEGIN WITH. >> DO YOU WANT TO GET OUT OF THE SITUATION? >> WITH MY OWN HOUSING BUT NOT WITH THE SHELTER. >> HAVE YOU MADE STRIDES TO FIND HOUSING? >> YES. >> HOW IS THAT COMING ALONG? >> IT’S GETTING BETTER. I HAD SOMEONE HERE THE OTHER DAY AND THEY SIGND ME UP THROUGH THEIR OFFICE. >> HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN HOMELESS? >> ABOUT A YEAR AND A HALF. >> KEVIN, HAVE YOU MADE ATTEMPTS TO FIND HOUSING SINCE YOU HAVE BEEN HOMELESS? >> I HAVE BEEN ON A WAITING LIST FOR THE LAST THREE YEARS AND I AM STILL HOMELESS. SIX YEARS AGO I WAS HOMELESS. I SPENT SOME TIME STAYING IN AN ABANDONED HOUSE AND I FOUND MYSELF IN A TENT IN THE WOODS. OFF OF T279TH. WHAT I WAS IN THE HOMELESS SITUATION IT FELT HOPELESS AND I WAS MISERABLE. IT IS A TERRIBLE WAY TO LIVE. I’M HAPPY I FOUND MY WAY OUT OF THERE. >> JUST TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR VIEWERS, JEREMY BENDER. >> CORRECT. >> AND YOU ARE NO LONGER HOMELESS? >> NO, I’M NOT. >> HOW DID THIS TRANSITION HAPPEN? >> I WAS GOING TO A MISSION FOR MEALS AND I FOUND OUT ABOUT THE RESIDENTIAL PROGRAMS. THEY WERE KIND ENOUGH TO PUT ME IN THEIR MENTAL HEALTH PROGRAM, AND I SPENT 2.5 YEARS THERE. BUILDING A STRONG FOUNDATION AS A WAY TO JOURNEY FROM HOMELESSNESS TO INDEPENDENCE. >> YOUR SITUATION NOW, YOU ARE LIVING -- >> I HAVE MY OWN APARTMENT WHICH I HAVE HAD FOR THREE YEARS NOW. I RECENTLY CELEBRATED FIVE YEARS DRUG AND ALCOHOL FREE. >> CONGRATULATIONS. >> YEAH, AND ACTUALLY NOW INSTEAD OF SITTING AND DOING GROUPS AND BEING ONE OF THE RESIDENTS THEY HAVE ME COME BACK ONCE A WEEK AT A VOLUNTEER CAPACITY AND DO A P MENTORING GROUPP --EER MENTORING GROUP. >> SO YOU WOULD SAY THERE IS HOPE? THAT IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE TO BE HOMELESS IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. >> WE ARE LOOKING CLOSER TO 2000 PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW. >> STILL AHEAD ON WTAE LISTENS A COMMUNITY GROUP STEPPING IN TO DO THEIR PART. ♪ >> WELCOME BACK TO WTAE LISTENS. THERE ARE PEOPLE OF ALL RACES, AGES, AND BACKGROUNDS WHO DO NOT HAVE A PLACE TO STAY RIGHT NOW. SO WHAT ARE THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES? ONE OF THE BIGGEST IS LIGHT OF LIGHT RESCUE MISSIONS. JOINING US IS TO GUESTS. AND THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF LIGHT OF LIFE RESCUE MISSION ORGANIZATION. 70 DUE YEARS I BELIEVE? >> RIGHT OVER 70 YEARS. GIVE US THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS AS WE KNOW IT HERE IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY. >> RIGHT NOW THE NUMBERS CONTINUE TO GROW. WE KNOW FROM LAST YEAR TO THIS YEAR IT WAS A 27% INCREASE AND THOSE ARE ONLY THE ONES WE HAVE IN OUR SYSTEM. WE ARE LOOKING AT CLOSER TO 2000 PEOPLE THAT ARE OUT THERE EXPERIENCING UNSHELTERED HOMELESSNESS RIGHT NOW. AND IT IS GREATER THAN THAT WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING TO FIND TEMPORARY SOLUTIONS, THEY MIGHT BE COUCH SURFING OR GOING OTHER PLACES. THE PROBLEM IS HERE WITH US. IT IS CONTINUING TO GROW AND IT’S GOING TO TAKE THE COMMUNITY TO COME UP WITH SOLUTIONS. >> THERE IS A STAGGERING NUMBER THAT YOU PREACHED TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC, THE NUMBER IS 3000. >> IT IS. >> 3000 CHILDREN WHO ARE HOMELESS IS THA ACCURATE? >> IT IS ACCURATE ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS BUT WHAT WE BELIEVE, IT IS NOT DEFINED AS A CHILD LIVING ON THE STREET, IF A PERSON DOES NOT HAVE A FIXED, ADEQUATE OR CAN DISTANT NIGHTTIME RESIDENT SO CHILDREN BOUNCING FROM ONE HOUSE TO ANOTHER OR LIVING DOUBLED UP IN A RESIDENCE OR LIVING IN HOUSING THAT JUST DOESN’T MEET ADEQUATE STANDARDS THEY ARE CONSIDERED HOMELESS. 30% OF OUR STUDENTS ARE IN SHELTERS AND THE OTHER 70% MAKE UP THE OTHER FRAMEWORK OF BOUNCING AROUND LIVING IN OTHER PEOPLE’S HOUSING. AND NOT LIVING IN ADEQUATE HOUSING OR LIVING IN HOTELS. WE ESTIMATE JUST ABOUT 5000 OR MORE STUDENTS OUT THERE WHO AREN’T LIVING IN STABLE, ADEQUATE, FIXED HOUSING. >> LET’S TALK ABOUT HOW THESE CHILDREN AND ADULTS GET INTO THAT SITUATION. READILY, WE TALK ABOUT MENTAL HEALTH. ADDICTION, AND ECONOMIC PRESSURES. HOW DOES THIS IMPACT THE CHILDREN IN EVERYDAY LIFE, IN SCHOOL, HOW ARE THEY AFFECTED? >> SO FAR, SHELDON, THE CYCLE DOESN’T START WHEN A CHILD IS BORN. IT STARTS BEFORE A CHILD IS BORN BECAUSE THEIR PARENTS IS EXPERIENCING THAT CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. IF THEY ARE MOVING FROM GRANDMA’S HOUSE TO ON 2002 A FRIEND’S HOUSE THEY ARE REGRESSING UP TO SIX MONTH FOR EVERY HOUSE THEY MOVE. THEY REGRESS IN THEIR EDUCATION. SO THE GAP CONTINUES TO WIDEN BECAUSE THERE IS NOT A STABLE PLACE THE CHILD CAN FEEL SAFE, SECURE, LOVED, AND TAKEN CARE OF AND THAT MANIFESTS ITSELF IN BEHAVIOR AT SCHOOL, LACK OF COMMITMENT TO EDUCATION. >>’S TALK ABOUT HOW THE EDUCATION FUND IS ADDRESSING THIS. YOU HAVE SHELTERS, LEARNING CENTERS -- >> YES. >> CAN YOU EXPLAIN WHAT THOSE ARE? >> WE LOOK AT OUR JOB AS PARTNER WITH EDUCATION, TEACHERS, SCHOOLS TO MAKE SURE WE PROVIDE SUPPORT, SOMETHING AS SIMPLE AS SCHOOL SUPPLIES WERE EVER THE CHILD NEEDS US TO PROVIDE THAT. THAT COULD BE IN THE SHELTER. WE HAVE LEARNING CENTERS IN IN SHELTERS. IT COULD BE IN SCHOOLS THAT WE ARE GOING INTO CLASSROOMS AND WORKING WITH TEACHERS TO PROVIDE EDUCATION INTERVENTION IN CLASSROOMS TO SUPPORT THE STUDENTS. >> AND YOU PROVIDE THEM WITH COMPUTERS? >> WHATEVER THEY NEED. OUR GOAL IS TO HELP THEM BUILD A BARRIER SEPARATING THEM FROM EDUCATION. SO IF A CHILD COMES TO US WE HAVE OUR OWN SOCIAL WORKER. WE MAKE SURE THEIR BASIC AND IMMEDIATE NEEDS ARE MET. IF THEY NEED A REFERRAL FOR HOUSING WE MAKE SURE THAT HAPPENS. IF THEY NEED CLOTHES OR FOOD, WE MAKE SURE WE PARTNER WITH OR PROVIDE THOSE BASIC NEEDS BECAUSE, AGAIN, LIKE YOU SAID UNTIL THOSE NEEDS ARE MET WE CAN’T REALLY BEGIN TO HELP THEM WITH THEIR ABCS BECAUSE THEY ARE NOT FOCUSED ON THAT. >> WE ESTIMATE IN OUR NETWORK FOR ABOUT 25% OF THE HOMELESS HOUSING IS THE FIRST STEP BUT OTHERS NEED WRAPAROUND SERVICES. YOU CAN JUST TAKE THEM OFF THE STREET, BUT THEM IN AN APARTMENT AND EXPECT THEM TO THRIVE. WE NEED TO HELP SOMETIMES IT’S A MEDICAL CONDITION, MENTAL HEALTH, THERE IS ALWAYS TRAUMA INVOLVED. THAT WOULD BE MY RECOMMENDATION WHAT IT’S GOING TO TAKE IS ALL OF US WORKING TOGETHER, BRINGING TOGETHER AROUND THE TABLE ALL OF THOSE OUT THERE THE FRONT LINE WORKERS GOING THERE EVERY DAY, THE NONPROFITS THAT ARE OUT THERE AS WELL AS THE CITY AND COUNTY. THERE ARE SOME EFFORTS OF DOING THAT BUT BECAUSE WE HAVEN’T DONE THAT, I THINK THERE IS A LOT OF HOLES NOW IN THE SYSTEM AND THAT IS WHAT WE ARE SEEING WITH THE INCREASE ON THE STREETS. IT’S JUST EVIDENCE THAT WE DON’T HAVE ENOUGH SAFETY NETS OUT THERE. >> THE NUMBER ONE INTERVENTION ESPECIALLY FOR US IS EDUCATION. OUR GOAL IS TO GET THE CHILD THROUGH HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION. BECAUSE WITH THE HIGH SCHOOL DIPLOMA OR GED, THEY ARE MORE LIKELY GUARANTEED TO MAKE A LIVABLE WAGE THAT CAN HELP THEM BREAK THE CYCLE OF HOMELESSNESS. IT CAN PROVIDE THEM STABILITY IN THEIR HOME. >> HOW DO YOU ADDRESS THESE FACTORS TO REVERSE THIS TREND? >> ONE OF THE THINGS I LIKE LOOKING AT IS IF YOU GO TO NIAGARA FALLS AND YOU ARE LOOKING AT THE FALLS AND SAYING HOW CAN WE STOP THIS? HOW CAN YOU STOP HOMELESSNESS? YOU HAVE TO GO UP TO THE TRIBUTARIES. WHAT ARE THE TRIBUTARIES TO REALLY UNDERSTAND WHAT MAKES UP THE BIG WATERFALL OF HOMELESSNESS? THE ONES YOU MENTIONED ARE SOME OF THE MAIN ONES BUT THEN YOU HAVE OTHER THINGS LIKE EVICTION MORATORIUM, THAT WAS RESULTED FROM THE PANDEMIC. WE HAVE 200 OVERTURN A WEEK TAKING PLACE AND SOME OF THAT IS RESIDUAL FROM THAT EVICTION MORATORIUM THAT WAS LIFTED NOT TOO LONG AGO. THESE ARE PEOPLE ENTERING THE HOMELESS POPULATION. PEOPLE COMING OUT OF PRISON, TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. >> THAT IS SOMETHING WE WILL GET INTO WITH OUR NEXT GUEST. EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND J.J. JEFFERSON. THANK YOU BOTH FOR JOINING US. >> PEOPLE LEADING THE CHARGE SAY IT HAS TO BE A GROUP EFFORT TO FIND SOLUTIONS TO HOMELESSNESS. >> OUR ULTIMATE GOAL IS TO GET EVERYBODY AND EVERYONE WHO WANTS TO NOT BE LIVING ON THE STREETS TO GET THEM INTO A FACILITY OR A PLACE THEY CAN THRIVE HOPEFULLY TRANSITION. >> AND WHEN WE COME BACK HOW IT’S BERG CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE KEEPING UP THEIR END OF THE BARGAIN. ♪ >> IN 2022 PITTSBURGH OPENED A SHELTER CALLED 2ND AVENUE COMMON. SEVERAL INSTITUTIONS HELPED THE FACILITY COME TO LIFE. THERE IS STILL MORE WORK AHEAD. NUMBERS OF CITY COUNTERS -- COUNCILS BOARD HAS HOPE FOR THE FUTURE. WE HAVE A GUEST TO TALK ABOUT THE CITY’S EFFORT TO ADDRESS HOMELESSNESS. THIS AS WE MENTIONED BEFORE IS A FIRST OF ITS KIND ATTEMPT TO DEAL WITH HOMELESSNESS IN TERMS OF CITY GOVERNMENT. PERHAPS THE MOST AGGRESSIVE ATTEMPT IN THE CITY’S HISTORY. TIME AT LEAST TO MY KNOWLEDGE THAT THERE IS A COMMITTEE DEDICATED TO THE HOMELESS CRISIS HERE IN THE CITY IS THAT CORRECT? >> THAT IS CORRECT AND THANK YOU. ANYBODY THAT KNOWS OUR PRESIDENT SAYS SHE IS VERY PASSIONATE. SHE’S WILLING TO TAKE THEM OFF THE STREET AND PUT THEM IN HER OWN HOME SO SHE FORMED A COMMITTEE. WE HAVE COUNCILMAN BOBBY WILSON WE ARE ALL VERY PASSIONATE ABOUT OUR IN HOUSE COMMUNITY. WE WANT TO BE PART OF THE SOLUTION. >> WHAT HAS THE COMMITTEE BEEN TALKING ABOUT? WHAT HAVE YOU IDENTIFIED AS STRATEGIES? >> I LIKE WITH -- I WOULD LIKE TO START WITH 2ND AVENUE COMMENTS. IT WAS A GREAT EXAMPLE OF PRIVATE PUBLIC PARTNERSHIP. >> REMIND US WHAT THAT IS. >> SECOND AVENUE COMMENTS IS A 24 HOUR, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK SHELTER WHERE PEOPLE CAN GO IN THERE AND GET COUNSELING, SOCIAL SERVICES, HEALTH CARE, A PLACE TO STAY, A WARM MEAL, A BED FOR THE NIGHT. AND HAS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR FOLKS WE FEEL ARE READY TO TRANSITION AND HAVE THEIR OWN PLACE. IT COVERS SO MANY THINGS. IT REALLY STARTED IN 2019. THE PROGRESS THEY MADE IN JUST THREE YEARS IS JUST WONDERFUL. WE HOPE TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AGAIN. >> BUT IT IS AT CAPACITY RIGHT NOW? >> CORRECT. >> HOW DO YOU GET MORE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING OR MORE HOUSING LIKE THAT? >> WE NEED MORE OF A TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FACILITY WHERE FOLKS CAN START GETTING ON THEIR FEET, PERHAPS GET A JOB, AND HAVE THEIR OWN PLACE. >> AND I HEARD A LOT ABOUT THAT. I BELIEVE DEBORAH GROSS COUNCILWOMAN MENTIONED ABOUT THE CITY RENOVATING AND CONVERTING PROPERTY, EXISTING PROPERTY TO USE AS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. HOW IS THAT CONCEPT MOVING FORWARD THERE? >> THEY IDENTIFY NEW LAND THAT PITTSBURGH HAS MUCH OF, PLACES WE CAN BUILD ON, PERHAPS EVEN ANOTHER 2ND AVENUE COMMONS. THE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN THE COUNTY, CITY, UPMC, HEALTH CARE, PNC WE PLAN TO CAPITALIZE ON THAT AGAIN AND WHETHER IT’S ANOTHER FACILITY LIKE 2ND AVENUE COMMONS WE ARE IDENTIFYING DIFFERENT WAYS TO HAVE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. I THINK THE MOST SIGNIFICANT THING WE HAVE DONE SINCE 2ND AVENUE COMMONS OPENED UP WAS FINANCING AND SUPPORTING A PROGRAM. THE RICH PROGRAM IS A PARTNERSHIP WITH ALLEGHENY HOUSE NETWORK. THESE ARE BOOTS ON THE GROUND. WE JUST APPROVED FUNDING FOR THE ROOTS PROGRAM. WHAT THEY DO IS HAVE SOCIAL SERVICE WORKERS. THEY GO INTO THE ENCAMPMENTS, ASSESS, ANALYZE WHO NEEDS WHAT AND WHAT KIND OF TREATMENT THEY NEED. THEY ARE GOING TO HAVE THREE DROP-IN CENTERS. KIND OF AN EMERGENCY WERE YOU GET SOMEONE IN A WARM PLACE AND GET THEM A WARM MEAL. ANOTHER THING THEY’RE GOING TO HAVE, FANS WITH LIMITED MEDICAL SUPPLIES TO HELP TRANSPORT PEOPLE. MAYBE AN ENCAMPMENT TO ONE OF THESE FACILITIES. THE PROGRAM IS REALLY BOOTS ON THE GROUND. IT REALLY IS A KEY ELEMENT IN GETTING PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS AND GETTING THEM INTO THE RIGHT FACILITY. >> STAY WITH US WTAE LISTENS RETURNS. >> WILL COME BACK TO WTAE LISTENS. WHETHER YOU LIVE IN ONE OF PITTSBURGH’S NEIGHBORHOODS, ALLEGHENY, BEAVER, BUTLER OR ANY OF OUR SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES, TELL US WHAT’S WRONG AND WHAT’S RIGHT IN YOUR AREA SO WE CAN LISTEN TO THOSE WHO HAVE THE ABILITY TO MAKE CHANGES. YOU CAN SEND US AN EMAIL WTAE LISTENS AT HEARST.COM. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US, AND HAVE A GOOD EVENING. ♪