NEIGHBORHOODS, HUNDREDS ARE STILL LEFT WITHOUT A PLACE TO CALL HOME. I HATE THIS. THERE’S NOTHING THAT I HATE MORE THAN THIS HOMELESSNESS DECLARED A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY IN PITTSBURGH. ADDICTION RISING INFLATION AND THE COVID 19 PANDEMIC PLAGUING THE CITY’S HOMELESS POPULATION. IT DOESN’T MATTER TO US. WE WANT TO GET YOU OFF THE STREET. AN ONGOING MISSION TO GET RID OF TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS LINING OUR THREE RIVERS. WE’RE STRUGGLING WITH ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SURE AND THE WORK TO STILL BE DONE. ALL KINDS OF THINGS GO ON DOWN HERE. IT’S DANGEROUS. IT’S SCARY. SHELTERS ARE NOT ENOUGH AND ARE NOT GOING TO GET US TO HELP PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK. PITTSBURGH LEADERS NOW TAKING NOTES FROM CITIES. MORE THAN A THOUSAND MILES AWAY. IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CARE. STORIES OF HOPE, HEARTBREAK AND PERSEVERANCE WITH PRETTY MUCH THERMAL LIFE AROUND A LOT OF LIFE. LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE IS CHRONICLE HOMELESS IN PITTSBURGH? GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO CHRONICLE. HOMELESS IN PITTSBURGH. I’M MIKE CLARK. AND I’M KRISTEN POWERS. FROM THE NORTH SIDE TO THE TRAILS ALONG THE OHIO AND ALLEGHENY RIVERS, YOU SEE PEOPLE WITH TENTS AND SLEEPING BAGS, CLOTHING PILED UP AND GARBAGE NEARBY AND IN BUILDINGS NOT FAR AWAY. THERE ARE PEOPLE WORKING TO REMOVE THOSE HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS AND GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. TONIGHT, WE EXPLORE HOW THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH IS BRINGING BOTH SIDES TOGETHER. THE RESOURCES ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZERS ARE OFFERING AND THE WORK PITTSBURGHERS ARE PUTTING IN TO TURN THEIR LIVES AROUND. HOMELESSNESS IS A PROBLEM THAT DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE. PEOPLE OF ALL BACKGROUNDS DO NOT HAVE A ROOF OVER THEIR HEADS. ADULTS BATTLING ADDICTION, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, VETERANS, VIOLENT CRIME SURVIVORS AND FORMER BUSINESS OWNERS ALL FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. AND OF COURSE, THIS IS NOT AN ISSUE SPECIFIC TO PITTSBURGH. WE’RE ALSO LOOKING AT STRATEGIES, OTHER PARTS OF THE COUNTRY ARE PUTTING TO THE TEST. LEADERS IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, AND COLUMBUS, OHIO, ARE TURNING THEIR ATTENTION TO TRANSITIONAL AND PERMANENT HOUSING OPTIONS. THIS IS SOMETHING OUR LOCAL OFFICIALS SAY IS A REALITY THEY WOULD LIKE TO SEE HERE, BUT THEY ARE RUNNING INTO SOME ROADBLOCKS. LET’S BEGIN TONIGHT BY GIVING YOU A LOOK AT WHAT IT’S LIKE RIGHT NOW TO TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE STREETS OF DOWNTOWN PITTSBURGH. AFTER THE DELPHENE OMICRON. WAITING LIGHTHOUSE WINDGAP AND THEN THEY GET JUMPED. THEY. GRAB. THE ENTIRE HOMELESS POPULATION IN PITTSBURGH IS SOARING, UP 24% IN JUST THE LAST YEAR. AND OF THOSE PEOPLE, THE NUMBER OF UNSHELTERED HOMELESS, MEANING PEOPLE IN ENCAMPMENTS OR ON THE STREETS HAS INCREASED BY 50%. REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM EXPLORES THE CIRCUMSTANCES THAT MAY CAUSE A STATE OF DISTRESS SUCH AS ECONOMIC HARDSHIP. THE STRUGGLE OF REHABILITATION AFTER INCARCERATION, DRUG ADDICTION OR DOMESTIC ABUSE. PITTSBURGH’S HOMELESS ENCAMPMENTS ARE GAINING A NUMBERS. THEY’RE JUST LIKE CITY NEIGHBORHOODS. THEY EACH HAVE THEIR OWN NAME. THIS PLACE HERE IS CALLED THE THE CHESTNUT STREET ENCAMPMENT. THIS USED TO BE THE STOCKHOLM OVER ON THE NORTH SIDE. BUT WHEN THE CITY SHUT THAT DOWN, EVERYBODY MOVED UP OVER HERE JUST OFF THE 16TH STREET BRIDGE. ANOTHER ONE IS CALLED THE SOUTHSIDE TRACKS ENCAMPMENT. THIS IS THE GRANT STREET ENCAMPMENT, MURDAUGH ARE SPREAD OUT ALONG THE NORTH SHORE. COUNTLESS CIRCUMSTANCES PUT PEOPLE IN THESE PLACES. THEY EXPLAIN HOW THEY ENDED UP ON THE STREETS. GLENN CIPARICK IS AT THE CASINO ENCAMPMENT ALONG THE OHIO RIVER ON THE NORTH SHORE. I MET A GIRL WHO WAS MY FIANCE. SHE WENT TO JAIL SADLY, AND SHE GOT OUT A LITTLE EARLY AND SHE DRAINED MY BANK ACCOUNT, CAUSED ME TO BE HOMELESS. MY LANDLORD SHOWED UP AND SAID MY CHECK HAD BOUNCED AND I SAID, MY CHECKS HAVE NEVER BOUNCED WITH YOU. I’VE BEEN YOUR TENANT FOR FOUR YEARS AND THAT’S HOW I FOUND OUT. PANHANDLERS ON GRANT STREET TELL ANOTHER STORY. I GOT INCARCERATE. I DID SOME THINGS WHEN I WAS YOUNGER. NOTHING BAD. STEALING TO SUPPORT MY ADDICTION. YOU SAY ADDICTION ENDS INCARCERATION? YES. SO YOUR SITUATION IS UNEMPLOYMENT THAT PUTS YOU HERE. EMPLOYMENT? YES, SIR. THERE’S STILL UNEMPLOYMENT AND YOU HAVE NOT BEEN ABLE TO FIND A JOB? NO. AND FINALLY, THERE’S THE COUPLE’S ENCAMPMENT. IT’S NAMED AFTER COUPLE’S STADIUM ON THE SOUTH SIDE. THIS PLACE IS CALLED ONE OF THE MORE DANGEROUS ENCAMPMENTS. VERY SKY 4. VERY A LOT OF MOMENTS OF PEOPLE DYING. YOU KNOW, A LOT OF DEATH. YOU KNOW, YOU CAN WAKE UP IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT. SOMEBODY COULD BE STABBING THE PERSON NEXT TO YOU. ALL KINDS OF THINGS GO ON DOWN HERE. IT’S DANGEROUS. IT’S SCARY. THIS IS 47 YEAR OLD BRANDON WISE, HOMELESS FOR SIX YEARS. HE OWNED A MAINTENANCE AND PROPERTY MANAGEMENT BUSINESS CALLED SERENITY MAINTENANCE IN PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. BUT HE LOST THREE MAJOR CLIENTS WITHIN DAYS OF EACH OTHER. I LOST MONEY ON MATERIALS, MY PAYROLL, ALL ALL THE OTHER FINANCES AND MY RENT EVERYTHING. EVENTUALLY, AT SOME POINT, YEAH, I WENT UNDER. IT WENT UNDER PRETTY QUICK. MORE STORIES ARE INSIDE THE FIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH DOWNTOWN. PEOPLE COME HERE FOR FOOD, PRAYER AND HOPE. THE LORD GOD ALMIGHTY, WE THANK YOU FOR EVERYONE HERE. SO LORD BLESS OUR TIME TOGETHER HERE TONIGHT AND BLESS THIS FOOD EVERY TUESDAY EVENING, MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN, BLACK AND WHITE FELLOWSHIP OVER A MEAL AND HOPE THEY’RE DRIVEN INTO THE STREETS BY UNEMPLOYMENT RELEASE FROM INCARCERATION ADDICTION, MENTAL ILLNESS AND OTHER HARDSHIPS. ON THIS NIGHT, 120 PEOPLE ARE FED BY OUTREACH ARMS MINISTRY, HORRIBLE THINGS HAPPEN TO THEM. AND JUST TO BE ABLE TO KNOW THAT SOMEBODY IS THERE TO TO PICK THEM UP WHEN THEY FALL DOWN OR PROVIDE THEM HOPE. I NEED A TRAY. 21 TO 30. THANK YOU. THIS IS WHERE WE FIND 53 YEAR OLD ALBERT HELSLEY FROM ALTOONA. HE CAME TO PITTSBURGH AFTER LOSING HIS WAREHOUSE JOB DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC, WORKING IN AN ENVELOPE FACTORY. AND THEN HE ENDED UP CLOSING DOWN. THEY LEFT AND THEY MOVED TO ANOTHER STATE. AND THAT LEFT YOU? YEAH, I WAS OUT IN THE STREET. THEY LEFT US OUT. I DIDN’T HAVE NOWHERE TO GO IN ALTOONA. I LOST MY APARTMENT. HELSLEY THOUGHT PITTSBURGH WOULD PROVIDE A WAY OUT FROM HIS HARDSHIP IN ALTOONA IN. INSTEAD, HE WALKED INTO A CITY WITH AN EVEN DEEPER STATE OF HOMELESSNESS. S ARE YOU SURPRISED TO SEE SO MANY HOMELESS PEOPLE IN PITTSBURGH? YES, A LOT. THERE’S NOT A LOT IN ALTOONA. THERE’S A LOT HERE. DID IT SURPRISE YOU? YES, VERY SURPRISED AT ONE OF THE CHALLENGES THAT ANY CITY FACES IS PROVIDING ENOUGH SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS WITHIN THE LAST YEAR, A NEW SHELTER OPENED ITS DOORS DOWNTOWN, OFFERING FOOD HOUSING, HEALTH CARE AND COUNSELING. AND THAT’S JUST ONE OF THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY RIGHT NOW IN PITTSBURGH. REPORTER PAUL VAN OSDOL LOOKS AT THE CURRENT STATE OF SERVICES FOR PEOPLE IN NEED AND HOW THE CITY SHELTERS ARE COPING WITH THE SURGE OF THE HOMELESS POPULATION. IN SECOND AVENUE. COMMONS BUZZ IS WITH ACTIVITY AS IT HAS SINCE OPENING LAST NOVEMBER. WE OPENED IN THAT SAME DAY. WE ACTUALLY FILLED MOST OF OUR SPACES. THE COMMONS WAS TOUTED AS AN ANSWER TO PITTSBURGH’S GROWING HOMELESS PROBLEM, BUT THE NUMBER OF HOMELESS WHO DESCENDED ON THE SHELTER FROM DAY ONE CAME AS A SHOCK TO PITTSBURGH MERCY, WHICH RUNS IT. WHEN YOU ADD THIS MANY PEOPLE FROM ALL OVER TOGETHER, YOU DON’T KNOW EXACTLY WHAT TO EXPECT. TONY BELTRAN IS CEO OF PITTSBURGH MERCY. I THINK IF YOU GET THAT MANY PEOPLE ALL AT ONCE IN A NEW SPACE, YOU’RE GOING TO HAVE SOME SOME KIND OF GLITCHES. 911 RECORDS SHOW HUNDREDS OF POLICE, FIRE AND EMS CALLS TO THE SHELTER IN ITS FIRST THREE MONTHS INCLUDE REPORTS OF ASSAULTS, THEFTS, FIGHTS, WEAPONS AND OVERDOSES. BELTRAN AND ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR SAY THE SHELTER HAS MOVED PAST ITS EARLY STRUGGLES IN ITS FIRST SIX MONTHS. THE COMMONS PROVIDED SHELTER FOR 800 PEOPLE, HELPED. 450 GET BENEFITS AND TREATED 213 PEOPLE FOR MEDICAL CONCERNS. ON THIS ONE. CHRISTOPHER TWEED IS A DRYWALL FINISHER WHO HELPED BUILD SECOND AVENUE COMMONS. I ENDED UP LIVING HERE. IMAGINE THAT. HE ENDED UP AT THE COMMONS AFTER BEING FORCED TO LEAVE HIS HOUSE DUE TO A PROTECTION FROM ABUSE ORDER. THEY HELP YOU WITH THE HOUSING AND WHATNOT AND DIFFERENT THINGS. JOBS AND IN HEALTH CARE, I THINK IT’S AMAZING. ELIZABETH HUNTS AND HER FIANCÉ, KEVIN JACKSON, HAD BEEN LIVING AT SECOND AVENUE FOR A MONTH WHEN CHRONICLE SPOKE WITH THEM, THEY GOT US A BED AND THEN GOT US TO SEE A DOCTOR. I HAD NO INSURANCE AND I NEEDED GLASSES FOR PROBABLY LIKE FIVE YEARS. I MY GLASSES WERE BROKEN AND HAVE PERKINS. WITHIN A WEEK I HAD NEW GLASSES AS THEY HAVE WITNESSED A FEW FIGHTS, BUT BOTH SAY THEY FEEL SAFE AT THE COMMONS. WE BOTH COME FROM A LIFE OF DRUGS, YOU KNOW, BUT HAVING A CLEAR HEAD NOW IS. YEAH, VERY, VERY MUCH WORTH IT. DO THEY HELP YOU OUT WITH THAT HERE, TOO? ABSOLUTELY. YEAH. BUT THEY’VE GOT ALL KINDS OF COUNSELORS AND PROGRAMS AND THEY HAVE A LOT OF OFF SITE COUNSELING THAT COMES IN AND OFFERS PROGRAMS. EXPERTS SAY SERVICES LIKE THAT ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT AS HAVING A WARM BED AND A MEAL IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, SURVEY FOUND 75% OF HOMELESS PEOPLE HAD RECEIVED MENTAL HEALTH OR SUBSTANCE ABUSE TREATMENT IN THE PAST YEAR. HOW YOUNG WERE YOU WHEN YOU WERE FORCED TO LIVE ON THE STREETS? I WAS AT 14. KARA DOBBINS STRUGGLED WITH ADDICTION AND MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES FOR YEARS. THEN SHE FOUND LIGHT OF LIFE RESCUE MISSION, WHICH OFFERS A SHELTER AS WELL AS COUNSELING AND OTHER PROGRAMS FOR MEN, WOMEN AND CHILDREN. CARE FOR. SPENT TWO YEARS LIVING AT THE MISSION’S SISTERS HOUSE, GETTING TREATMENT AND MAKING CONNECTIONS. IF YOU HADN’T HAD THAT EXPERIENCE WHERE WOULD YOU HAVE ENDED UP? I DON’T KNOW. I PROBABLY WOULDN’T BE HERE. GOD ONLY KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE. MAYBE ON THE STREETS. YEAH, BECAUSE A LOT OF LIFE. LITERALLY CHANGED MY LIFE. LIGHT OF LIFE. DIRECTOR GENERAL GILLIAM SAYS PROVIDING SERVICES IS KEY TO REDUCING HOMELESSNESS. IF A PERSON HAS A BAD TOOTH AND IT’S ACHING, THEY’RE NOT GOING TO BE ABLE TO TO APPLY THEIR FOCUS INTO GETTING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. SO WE WANT TO CONNECT THEM WITH A DENTIST. UNLIKE SECOND AVENUE COMMONS, LIGHT OF LIFE IS CHRISTIAN FOCUSED, BUT GILLIAM SAYS THEY DON’T FORCE RELIGION ON THEIR CLIENTS. PEOPLE COME IN, THEY DON’T HAVE SOME, DON’T HAVE FAITH, SOME DO. SOME MIGHT PRACTICE A DIFFERENT FAITH. IT DOESN’T MATTER TO US. WE WANT TO GET YOU OFF THE STREET TO GET PEOPLE OFF THE STREETS. LIGHT OF LIFE SENDS TEAMS INTO THE STREETS, OFFERING HELP TO THOSE IN HOMELESS CAMPS. PEOPLE WERE NOT COMING TO US. WE NEEDED TO GO TO THEM. THE PEOPLE THEY FIND ARE NOT ALWAYS WHO YOU THINK THEY MIGHT BE. EXPERTS SAY THE HOMELESS IN PITTSBURGH INCLUDE WOMEN AND CHILDREN, COLLEGE STUDENTS, PEOPLE WITH ADVANCED DEGREES. WE HAVE PEOPLE IN OUR PROGRAM THAT HAVE PHDS OR MASTER’S DEGREES. THEY’VE OWNED BUSINESSES BEFORE, BUT THEY’VE HAD A SERIES OF LIFE EVENTS THAT HAVE ENDED THEM BEING HERE. SOME ALSO END UP AT THE SMITHFIELD UNITED CHURCH OF CHRIST DOWNTOWN. THE SMITHFIELD SHELTER TYPICALLY CLOSES IN MARCH, BUT BECAUSE OF DEMAND, ALLEGHENY COUNTY IS KEEPING IT OPEN THROUGH JUNE 20TH AFTER IT CLOSES, THE COUNTY WILL USE A VAN TO TRANSPORT HOMELESS PEOPLE DOWNTOWN TO LIGHT OF LIFE. SECOND AVENUE COMMONS AND OTHER SHELTERS. BUT EXPERTS SAY FINDING SHELTER FOR THE HOMELESS IS LIKE A GAME OF WHACK A MOLE. AARON DALTON IS ALLEGHENY COUNTY’S HUMAN SERVICES DIRECTOR. YOU’LL NEVER HAVE ENOUGH SHELTER, NEVER, EVER. IF YOU AREN’T MOVING PEOPLE THROUGH THE SYSTEM. IF PEOPLE AREN’T EXITING TO HOUSING, IS THERE ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING NOW TO ACCOMMODATE THEM? NO. I MEAN, I THINK THAT IS A REAL CHALLENGE. WE’RE STRUGGLING WITH ENOUGH AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR SURE. IT’S ALSO A STRUGGLE FOR ELIZABETH AND KEVIN AT SECOND AVENUE COMMONS. MY GOAL IS TO BY THE END OF THE SUMMER TO BE IN MY OWN PLACE. SO MY KIDS CAN COME HOME. IT CERTAINLY IS NOT A DESTINATION. THIS IS ONLY TEMPORARY, YOU KNOW, THIS IS DEFINITELY A GATEWAY, A PATHWAY JUST TO GET US TO THE REST OF OUR LIVES. WE’VE BEEN PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO SHELTERS AND WE KNOW THAT SHELTERS ARE NOT HOUSING. NEXT ON CHRONICLE, PITTSBURGH CITY COUNCIL CREATES A BRAND NEW COMMITTEE TASKED SOLELY WITH TACKLING THE HOMELESS CRISIS. EVICTION IS SUCH A DISRUPTIVE CAPTIVE EVENT FOR FAMILIES AND LATER, WORKING TO DECREASE HUNDREDS OF EVICTION FILINGS HAPPENING PER MONTH IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. WELCOME BACK TO CHRONICLE AS WE EXPLORE THE GROWING HOMELESSNESS CRISIS IN PITTSBURGH, WE’RE ALSO LOOKING TO THE FUTURE, SPECIFICALLY THE INITIATIVES. A BRAND NEW CITY COUNCIL COMMITTEE IS TRYING TO LAUNCH. ONE OF THEIR MAIN AREAS OF FOCUS IS TRANSITIONAL HOUSING FOR THE HOMELESS POPULATION, SOMETHING THEY CALL AN UPGRADE FROM TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT SHELTERS. SHELDON INGRAM INTRODUCES US TO THE LOCAL ARCHITECT AND INTERIOR DESIGN COMPANY TEAMING UP WITH THE CITY COUNCIL TO ACCOMPLISH THAT GOAL. PITTSBURGH JOINS A LONG LIST OF CITIES WITH A SWELLING, HOMELESS CRISIS. IT’S SO ALARMING. CITY COUNCIL HAS FORMED ITS FIRST EVER COMMITTEE ON HOMELESSNESS. IT IS CHARGED WITH REPLACING TENTS WITH ACTUAL HOUSING FOR THE CITY. COUNCILMAN ANTHONY COGHILL IS THE COMMITTEE CHAIR. HE IS JOINED BY COUNCIL WOMAN DEB GROSS. COUNCILWOMAN ERICA STRASBURGER AND CITY COUNCILMAN BOBBY WILSON. THEY ALL AGREE THAT RELYING ONLY ON OVERNIGHT SHELTERS IS INEFFECTIVE. WE’VE BEEN PUTTING OUR MONEY INTO SHELTERS AND WE KNOW THAT SHELTERS ARE NOT HOUSING AND SHELTERS ARE NOT ENOUGH AND ARE NOT GOING TO GET US TO HELP PEOPLE GET THEIR LIVES BACK. THE HOMELESS COMMITTEE IS FOCUSING ON LONG TERM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THAT, COMBINED WITH A CACHE OF SOCIAL SERVICES TO TREAT ADDICTION AND MENTAL ILLNESS. SECOND AVENUE COMMONS IS THE FIRST STEP IN THAT DIRECTION. IT IS A 95 BED SHELTER WITH SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY AND ENGAGEMENT CENTER AND SUPPORT OF CASE MANAGERS. BUT IT FILLED UP AS SOON AS IT OPENED LAST FALL. WHATEVER PLAN WE COME UP WITH, IT’S GOING TO BE GEARED TOWARD SINGLE ROOM OCCUPANCY. AND I THINK THAT’S WHAT I HEAR ON THE STREET. I HEAR IT FROM, YOU KNOW, ALL THE AGENCIES THAT ARE WORKING OUT THERE. WHAT THEY REALLY NEED IS BEYOND SECOND AVENUE, COMMON IS A PLACE FOR PEOPLE TO TRANSITION BACK INTO SOCIETY. WHEN WE DESIGNED THE SPACES CITY COUNCIL’S HOMELESS COMMITTEE HAS FORMED A PARTNERSHIP WITH DLA PLUS ARCHITECT AND DESIGN TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN. AS ARCHITECTS, WE ARE WE’RE STEWARDS OF THE HUMAN CONDITION AND WE WE WE DESIGN FACILITIES FOR PEOPLE. NICK DEUTSCH IS SENIOR VP AT DLA, THE SAME FIRM THAT DESIGNED SECOND AVENUE COMMONS. THEIR DESIGNING HOUSING CONCEPTS FOR NEW FACILITY THAT ARE SUPPOSED TO BE BETTER THAN THE SECOND AVENUE COMMONS TRANSITION FROM SHELTER LIVING TO MORE INDEPEND LIVING MORE INDEPENDENT IS WHAT WE WERE CALLED TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. OKAY. AND THAT IS HOW CITY COUNCIL IS LOOKING AT THIS. HERE ARE TWO CONCEPTS. ONE IS A FIVE STORY BUILDING WITH ROUGHLY 100 ROOMS EACH ROOM HAS MODEST ACCOMMODATIONS. YOU HAVE A BED AND MAYBE A LITTLE SPACE FOR PERSONAL STORAGE, MAYBE A MICROWAVE. WE HAVE COMMON HYGIENE LIKE ON EVERY FLOOR THAT WILL BE SHARED. BATHROOMS AND SHOWERS AND ON THE GROUND FLOOR. THERE’S GOING TO BE A COMMON ROOM AND AND A KITCHEN AND DINING DOYKOV SHOWS A SECOND HOUSING CONCEPT. IT’S A VILLAGE OF SMALL SINGLE DWELLING HOMES ON A LOT WITH A COMMUNITY ROOM. EACH DWELLING IS ABOUT THE SIZE OF A STUDIO APARTMENT. THE THOUGHT IS THAT THESE BUILDINGS COULD BE BUILT ON CITY OWNED LAND. THE CONCEPT IS, OKAY, WE HAVE TEN OF THESE AND THEY HAVE A COMMUNITY BUILDING. BUT THE HARD TRUTH IS THAT THESE HOUSING CONCEPT PIECES ARE SIMPLY IDEAS. NO STAKEHOLDER PARTNERSHIPS HAVE BEEN FORMED TO GUIDE THESE PROJECTS AND NO FUNDING IS IN PLACE TO BUILD THEM. THAT LEAVES THE HOMELESS CRISIS STILL IN NEED OF SOLUTIONS. YOU’VE SEEN THE EFFORTS UNDERWAY HERE IN PITTSBURGH. IF IT WASN’T FOR NATIONAL CHURCH, ONLY GOD IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE RIGHT NOW. NEXT, WE TRAVELED TO OHIO AND TEXAS, WHERE LEADERS ARE TURNING TO NEW TACTICS. IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAY LONG AFTER THEY GET OVER THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS. THAT’S STILL AHEAD ON CHRONICLE. DURING THE PANDEMIC, WE SAW JUST HOW MANY FAMILIES ARE ONE PAYCHECK AWAY FROM NOT BEING ABLE TO PAY THEIR BILLS AND THAT COULD LEAD TO EVICTION. THROUGHOUT THIS PROCESS, WE LEARNED THERE’S NO CLEAR DATA THAT ACTUALLY LINKS EVICTIONS WITH HOMELESSNESS. THE UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT TRACKS THAT PEOPLE ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, BUT IT DOES NOT TRACK WHY. HOWEVER, THERE’S NO DENYING THAT IF SOMEONE IS EVICTED, THEY COULD BE AT RISK OF HOMELESSNESS. THAT’S WHY WE FOUND THERE ARE SEVERAL GROUPS IN PITTSBURGH ACTIVELY WORKING TO PREVENT EVICTIONS, KEEPING PEOPLE IN THEIR HOMES. SO LOW. THE HOUSING INSECURE CITY HAS BEEN A VEXING PROBLEM IN THE COUNTY. ALLEGHENY COUNTY, FOR DECADES. LISA SCHROEDER IS THE PRESIDENT AND CEO OF THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION. SHE SAYS PRE PANDEMIC THERE WERE ABOUT 1200 EVICTION FILINGS EACH MONTH IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY. THAT’S MORE THAN 14,000 FILINGS A YEAR. FILINGS BEING THE KEY WORD. SCHROEDER SAYS WE HAVE NO INFORMATION MATSON ON HOW MANY OF THOSE HOUSEHOLDS ARE ACTUALLY EVICTED BECAUSE THOSE NUMBERS ARE NOT REPORTED IN THE STATE DATABASE. AN EVICTION BAN IS SUCH A DISRUPTIVE EVENT FOR FAMILIES WITH IMPACTS THAT OFTEN FOLLOW THEM FOR YEARS, IF NOT DECADES, THAT WE PUT TOGETHER THE EVICTION WORKING GROUP, BRINGING IN BRINGING TOGETHER PARTNERS FROM ALL SECTORS IN ORDER TO FIGURE OUT HOW TO DEVELOP A ROBUST AND ROBUST AND SET OF ASSISTANCE THAT’S SET OF SERVICES AND SET OF COURT PROCEDURES THAT WOULD MAKE IT POSSIBLE FOR FAMILIES TO TO PREVENT EVICTION BEFORE IT HAPPENS. WE NEED TO ADVOCATE FOR THEM EVEN BEFORE COURT. A GOOD EXAMPLE OF THAT, PREVENTION IS THE LAWYER OF THE DAY PROGRAM, WHICH IS MOSTLY FUNDED BY PITTSBURGH’S HOUSING OPPORTUNITY FUND THROUGH THE URBAN REDEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY. RIGHT NOW, THE PROGRAM SENDS ATTORNEYS IN PERSON TO FOUR DIFFERENT MAGISTERIAL DISTRICT COURTS IN THE CITY, CONNECTING TENANTS WITH ALL KINDS OF RESOURCES FOR FREE. THEY’LL DO OUTREACH TO THE TENANTS, TRY TO CONNECT THEM TO RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND GET STARTED ON THOSE APPLICATIONS FIRST. AND THEN WITH THAT, THEY WILL REFER THEM OVER TO LEGAL ASSISTANCE AS WELL, WHETHER THAT BE NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES OR EBONY LAW. NICK BRADY, A HOUSING ATTORNEY AT NEIGHBORHOOD LEGAL SERVICES, SAYS THEY’VE CONVINCED THE MAGISTRATES TO CONSOLIDATE ALL OF THEIR LANDLORD TENANT CASES TO ONE DAY A WEEK, WHICH HELPS BECAUSE EVEN IF TENANTS HAVE BEEN UNRESTORED OFFENSIVE OR THEY COULDN’T CONNECT WITH THEM FOR WHATEVER REASON AHEAD OF THE HEARING, AN ATTORNEY WILL BE IN COURT TO HELP BECAUSE OF THIS, BRADY IS HOPING THE PROGRAM EXPANDS INTO MORE COURTS SOON. IT HELPS HOMELESSNESS A LOT WHEN WE ARE IN THE COURTS MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE THAT ARE REALLY TEN DAYS AWAY FROM MISSING A CRITICAL APPEAL DATE AND 21 DAYS FROM ACTUAL EVICTION AND WITH NO OTHER OPPORTUNITIES. YEAH, WE’RE WE ARE HELPING THAT ISSUE ALSO WORKING TO PREVENT EVICTIONS IS JUST MEDIATION. PITTSBURGH, A GROUP DEDICATED TO HELPING LANDLORDS AND TENANTS FIND SOLUTIONS TO HOUSING DISPUTES INSTEAD OF GOING TO COURT. THE MAIN ISSUE THAT WE DEAL WITH ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HAVING DIFFICULTY WITH PAYMENT. SO IT’S ARREARAGES RENTAL ARREARS, FINANCIAL ARREARAGES, BUT THEY’RE ALSO HABITABILITY ISSUES. BRENDA HARRIS IS THE MEDIATION AND ENGAGEMENT DIRECTOR AT JUST MEDIATION PITTSBURGH. SHE SAYS MEDIATION IS FREE TO EVERYONE CONFIDENTIAL AND A VOLUNTARY PROCESS. HARRIS SAYS ONCE EVERYONE COMES TO AN AGREEMENT, THEY SIGN A LEGALLY ENFORCEABLE DOCUMENT. THIS IS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR BOTH PARTIES TO CONTROL THEIR FATE AND TO COME TO A SOLUTION AND A RESOLUTION, ALONG WITH ALL THE RESOURCES THAT WE CAN PARTNER THEM WITH SO THAT THE SITUATION CAN BE RESOLVED AND SO THAT THEIR FUTURE CAN LOOK BRIGHTER. THAT IS WHAT’S IMPORTANT. LET’S RELOOK AT THE NUMBERS. WE TOLD YOU THAT PRE-PANDEMIC THERE WERE ABOUT 1200 EVICTION FILINGS EACH MONTH IN ALLEGHENY COUNTY, THE PITTSBURGH FOUNDATION SAYS POST-PANDEMIC THAT NUMBER DECREASED TO ABOUT 770 FILINGS PER MONTH. SO WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT WE NEED NEW SOLUTIONS. NOW WE NEED A VASTLY DEEPER AND BROADER SET OF SERVICES TO REALLY SUPPORT PEOPLE, TO GET THEM THROUGH THEIR INSECURE THE T IT’S A SAFE PLACE FOR, YOU KNOW, THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE, YOU KNOW, IT PRETTY MUCH TURNED MY LIFE AROUND, TURNING HIS LIFE AROUND WITH A TEAM OF PITTSBURGHERS RALLYING BESIDE HIM. STILL AHEAD ON CHRONICLE, A DISABLED NAVY VETERAN, NAVY MAKES HIS WAY THROUGH A DIFFICULT JOURNEY. AT THE BEGINNING OF 2023, THE CITY DECLARED THE CURRENT HOMELESS CRISIS AS A PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY. WITH THAT ALSO CAME PLANS TO START IDENTIFYING PARCELS OF LAND AND EXISTING PROPERTY THAT CAN BE FLIPPED TO CREATE MORE SHELTERS AND LONG TERM TRANSITIONAL HOUSING COUNCIL MEMBERS SAY THERE ARE MORE THAN A DOZEN OPTIONS RIGHT NOW. THOSE SAME COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE ALSO TAKING NOTICE FROM OTHER CITIES TO SEE HOW THEY ARE ADDRESSING SIMILAR ISSUES. CHRONICLE TRAVELED MORE THAN 1500 MILES TO THE PLACES PITTSBURGH IS KEEPING AN EYE ON TO SEE FOR OURSELVES WHAT OFFICIALS THERE ARE DOING. REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM STARTED HIS JOURNEY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, WHERE THE PRIMARY FOCUS IS ON PERMANENT HOUSING. SON RISE OVER HOUSTON. 6.7 MILLION RESIDENTS GIVE YOU 100. COULD GIVE YOU $100 OF MY MONEY. JESSE’S COLLEGE OF HOLLYWOOD KNOWLEDGE. WE’LL GET TO THAT IN 740 THIS MORNING HERE ON MIX. BUT NOT EVERY MORNING IS SUNNY FOR SOME PEOPLE. THEY AWAKE FROM CONCRETE BEDS, THE CITY SIDEWALKS, BUT PUTTING THEM IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS THE MISSION OF THE HOUSTON COALITION FOR THE HOMELESS. THE BEST WAY TO DESCRIBE IT TO ME IS THE INDIVIDUALS MOST LIKELY TO DIE. THE COALITION IS LED BY CEO AND PRESIDENT MIKE NICHOLS. SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, MEANING A REAL UNIT WITH A LOCK AND A KEY AND AN AIR CONDITIONER AND A HEATER AND A KITCHEN, A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN STAY LONG AFTER THEY GET OVER THE TRAUMA OF HOMELESSNESS. THIS IS ACHIEVED WITH A PROGRAM CALLED THE WAY HOME. MORE THAN 100 ORGANIZATIONS PENS MAKE IT WORK UNDER THE SUPERVISION OF THE COALITION. THE GOVERNMENT AGENCIES, NONPROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, SOCIAL SERVICES, PHILANTHROPISTS AND FEDERAL GRANTS ARE FOCUSED ON ONE STRATEGY. AND THAT STRATEGY WAS HOUSING THE MOST VULNERABLE INDIVIDUALS IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. NICHOLS SAYS THIS STRATEGY HAS PUT 28,000 PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING DURING THE PAST 12 YEARS, PUTTING THE POLICE CAR. WE FOUND TWO OF THEM. DARREL BOUDREAU DO YOU GET TIRED OF IT? AND KENNY DELCAMBRE, WHO SAYS HE NOW LIVES IN A HOUSE, THREE BEDROOMS THROUGH THIS PROGRAM. THROUGH THIS PROGRAM, I WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO MEET SOME REAL GOOD PEOPLE. I GOT A ROOF OVER MY HEAD AND IN THE WAY HOME WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR ME GETTING IT, REALLY, BECAUSE CAUSE I DID THE THINGS THAT WE DISCUSSED IN OUR MEETINGS AND OUR CLASSES. YEAH. OKAY, HERE’S HOW IT WORKS. IT STARTS ON THE STREETS WITH ENCAMPMENT OUTREACH TEAMS. WE COULDN’T GET HIM INTO HOUSING. AND WHEN I FOUND HIM AGAIN, I WAS LIKE, WHAT HAPPENED? AND HE SAID THAT HE HAD TO CHECK INTO THE HOSPITAL AND HE WAS. THIS AREA IS CALLED 610 SOUTHWEST. SO WHAT WE TRY TO DO IS GET EVERYBODY READY FOR HOUSING. SO OUR PRIORITY IS GETTING THEM AN ID, VERIFYING THEIR HOMELESSNESS. ARE THEY DISABLED? THEIR AGE? HAVE THEY BEEN VICTIMS OF DOMESTIC VIOLENCE OR OTHER VIOLENCE? WE’RE AT 610 INFORMATION ON EACH PERSON IS LOADED INTO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM KNOWN AS HMS, AS IT’S ACCESSIBLE TO ALL 100 AGENCIES IN THE WAY HOME PROGRAM. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP, ACTUALLY, ON GETTING SOMEBODY READY TO HOUSING THIS HOUSING ASSESSMENT, AND IT HELPS MATCH THEM WITH PROGRAMS THAT THEY’RE ELIGIBLE FOR AN THIS IS ANOTHER PLACE TO GET ON TRACK FOR HOUSING. WHEN MEETING WITH STREET OUTREACH, IS IT POSSIBLE THIS IS THE BEACON HOUSE, ONE OF SEVERAL DROP IN DAY CENTERS IN CENTRAL HOUSTON EACH DAY, 150 MEALS ARE SERVED FIVE DAYS A WEEK. YOU GUYS ARE ALL VOLUNTEERS? YES. THIS PLACE ALSO PROVIDES FULL LAUNDRY SERVICE FOR THE HOMELESS WHO DROP IN. THEY ALSO SHOWER HERE AND THEY CAN USE THIS FACILITY AS THEIR MAILING ADDRESS. IT’S MORE THAN 600. USE THAT SERVICE. THE HOUSING ASSESSMENT OFFICE IS A CRITICAL PIECE HERE. THIS IS WHERE PERSONAL INFORMATION IS LOADED INTO THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR THE 100 PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS, ABIGAIL ZAINO IS GETTING HELP HOMELESS FOR 14 MONTHS. SOON SHE’LL HAVE KEYS TO HER OWN PLACE FOR ASSISTING HER WITH THAT. BUT IT’S GOING TO HELP A LOT. AND THAT’S GETTING HER OFF THE STREETS, BUILDING TRUST WITH THEM. OUR STAFF, OUR VOLUNTEERS, THEY’RE ALL WELCOMING FACES AND WE REALLY BEGIN TO HAVE A CONVERSATION WITH THEM ABOUT HOUSING AND GETTING ENGAGED IN THAT PROCESS. AND THIS IS WHAT SOME OF THE HOUSING LOOKS LIKE. THIS APARTMENT COMPLEX IS MANAGED BY AXIOM RESIDENTIAL. THE COALITION HAS THE LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY WITH AXIOM AND MANY OTHER PROPERTY MANAGEMENT. COMPANIES. 250 PROPERTIES DEDICATE TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. I THINK IT’S A VERY NEW APPROACH. THE LANDLORD ENGAGEMENT STRATEGY. HOW CRITICAL IS THAT? IT IS ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL. ALL PEOPLE ARE HOMELESS FOR DIFFERENT REASONS. SOME OF THEM ARE PERFECTLY GOOD. THEY’RE VERY EQUAL IN NATURE. TO THE RESIDENTS THAT WE HAVE IN THIS COMPLEX. AND WE’RE JUST PROVIDING THEM WITH AN ALTERNATIVE WAY TO GET BACK TO WHAT I WOULD CONSIDER KIND OF A NORMAL WAY OF LIFE. AND IT’S NOT SECTION EIGHT HOUSING TENANTS ARE PROCESSED IN A FEW WEEKS INSTEAD OF 60 TO 90 DAYS, RENT IS COVERED WITH HUD GRANTS. PUBLIC HOUSING VOUCHERS AND DONATIONS. THERE IS AN AGREEMENT FOR THE PROGRAM TO PROVIDE SOME FORM OF RENTAL ASSISTANCE AND GUARANTEE US THAT WE WILL GET PAID A NUMBER OF LANDLORDS WILL JOIN THE PROGRAM AND HOUSE OUR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS, AND THAT’S BEEN HUGELY SUCCESSFUL. BUT THE COALITION DOES NOT FOCUS ON TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND IT DOES NOT REQUIRE CLIENTS TO COMPLETE PROGRAM FOR ADDICTION OR MENTAL ILLNESS BEFORE RECEIVING HOUSING. THEIR STRATEGY FROM THE STREETS TO PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. WE WANT OUR FUNDING AND OUR FOCUS PUT ON PERMANENT HOUSING AND THEN MORE THAN 85% OF THOSE PEOPLE CAN STAY THERE, STAY OUT OF THE HOMELESS RESPONSE SYSTEM FOR MORE THAN TWO YEARS. IT WORKS, AND IT’S FISCALLY RESPONSIBLE AND MORALLY RESPONSE ABLE. WHEN WE COME BACK, OUR ROAD TRIP CONTINUES FROM TEXAS TO OHIO. IT HELPS ME IDENTIFY WHO I AM AS A MAN, WHICH WAS IN THE BACK BURNER. SO FOR SO LONG, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS IS PUTTING NEW STRATEGIES TO THE TEST. DOZENS OF OLD BUILDINGS BECOMING SAFE HAVENS FOR PEOPLE IN NEED. WELL, COME BACK TO CHRONICLE. SO FAR WE’VE SHOWN YOU PITTSBURGH’S EFFORTS TO EXPLORE TRANSITIONAL HOUSING AND THE WORK UNDERWAY IN HOUSTON, TEXAS, TO BUILD PERMANENT OPTIONS. NOW WE’RE TAKING YOU TO COLUMBUS, OHIO, A CITY ALSO PROVIDING PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING TO TRY TO ELIMINATE HOMELESSNESS. SHELDON INGRAM CONTINUES HIS ROAD TRIP TO SEE THE STRATEGY OF CONVERTING AND BUILDING NEW PROPERTY TO CREATE SAFE HAVENS. FULL OF. THIS IS ERIC DRUG ADDICTION SENT HIM INTO HOMELESSNESS IN 2020. TODAY HE HAS HIS OWN APARTMENT AND IS RECEIVING TREATMENT TO BATTLE HIS ADDICTION. YES, THEY ARE STILL SOME JOHN HUFFMAN, THE THIRD, HAS HIS OWN APARTMENT TOO. AFTER TEN YEARS LIVING ON THE STREETS BECAUSE OF DEPRESSION AND DRUG ADDICTION, HE LIVES IN THIS BUILDING CALLED THE COMMONS AT BUCKINGHAM. IT’S RUN BY NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES TO HAVE A PLACE TO LAY MY HEAD, TO HAVE A PLACE TO FIX MY OWN FOOD, TO GO, TO BE ABLE TO DO THAT ONCE AGAIN IN MY LIFE ON MY OWN WAS AN OVERWHELMING PROCESS. COMMONS AT BUCKINGHAM IS PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING FOR PEOPLE COMING OUT OF HOMELESSNESS. NATIONAL CHURCH RESIDENCES HAVE FIVE FACILITY LIKE THIS IN COLUMBUS IS ERIC’S APARTMENT IS RUN BY A COMPANY CALLED HOMEWOOD. IT’S A CONVERTED HOTEL HOME FALL HAS MORE THAN 1000 UNITS IN COLUMBUS DEDICATED TO PERMANENT SUPPORT OF HOUSING. JUST BEING ABLE TO SHOWER EVERY NIGHT, THAT’S SOMETHING I DIDN’T HAVE WHEN I WAS HOMELESS. I DIDN’T HAVE IT. I DIDN’T KNOW WHERE I WAS GOING. I USED TO GO TO PARKS AND WASH UP IN THE IN THE SINK, YOU KNOW, JUST TO KEEP MYSELF CLEAN. THERE’S EVEN A MOBILE GROCERY STORE PROVIDED BY HOME FALL AND THERE’S ASSISTANT WITH TREATMENT. MAYBE IT’S REFERRAL TO A DRUG TREATMENT PROGRAM. IT COULD BE MAYBE IT’S HEALTH AND MEDICAL ISSUES, RIGHT? SO ANYTHING THAT MAKES THEM UNABLE TO MAINTAIN HOUSING STABILITY OUT ON THEIR OWN IS WHAT OUR CASE MANAGERS ARE GOING TO HELP CONNECT THEM TO OUT IN THE COMMUNITY. 34 BUILDINGS IN COLUMBUS PROVIDE 2400 UNITS OF PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING. SOME ARE RECLAIMED HOTELS. OTHERS ARE NEWLY CONSTRUCTED BUILDINGS. THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD MAKES IT ALL HAPPEN BY USING 800 LANDLORDS AS PART OF THE STRATEGY AGAINST HOMELESSNESS. THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD IS RUN BY CEO SHANNON ISOM. IT IS AN ACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY TO NOT HAVE HOUSING UNACCEPTABLE FOR ANYONE IN OUR COMMUNITY, TO BE UNSHELTERED. MONEY FROM HUD, THE CITY OF COLUMBUS, HEFTY BUSINESS AND PRIVATE DONATIONS AND A LANDLORD INCENTIVE PROGRAM IS HOW THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD EXECUTES ITS STRATEGY AGAINST HOMELESSNESS. MAKE NO MISTAKE, THE HOMELESS POPULATION IS A CRISIS IN COLUMBUS, EVEN THOUGH THE HOMELESS ARE NOT SEEN CAMPED OUT DOWNTOWN. THEY’RE INSIDE MANY OF THE DAYTIME RESOURCE CENTERS OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 9 A.M. TO 5 P.M. AND IT’S JUST A PLACE WHERE YOU CAN CONNECT TO WI-FI. YOU CAN GET COFFEE, THEY HAVE A KITCHEN, YOU CAN MAKE FOOD. THEY DO DIFFERENT CLASSES THERE AND PROVIDE DIFFERENT RESOURCES. THERE. SO IT’S LIKE A SAFE PLACE TO BE INSIDE THE MARY HAVEN IS ANOTHER PLACE. IT’S A SPECIALIZED SHELTER FOR PEOPLE TO RECOVER FROM PUBLIC DRUNKENNESS AND DRUG INFLUENCE INSTEAD OF STAGGERING AND LOITERING ON PUBLIC STREETS. RATHER THAN COME HOME AND BE, YOU KNOW, MAYBE ARRESTED BY POLICE FOR PUBLIC INTOXICATION. IT’S A PLACE WHERE PEOPLE CAN COME REST FOR THE EVENING, GET WHAT THEY NEED, AND IT’S REALLY A DIVERSION FROM THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM. BETTINA BLISS AND RYAN JEFFERSON ARE MEMBERS OF THE MOUNT CARMEL HEALTH SYSTEM HOUSING OUTREACH TEAM. IT’S ONE OF SEVERAL AGENCIES WORKING UNDER THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD STRATEGY AGAINST HOMELESSNESS. ALL AGENCIES ARE LINKED TOGETHER BY A NETWORK CALLED THE HOMELESS MANAGEMENT INFORMATION SYSTEM. IT ALL STARTS WITH THE OUTREACH TEAM WHO STARTS THE HOUSING PROCESS. THEY FOCUS ON PERMANENT HOUSING AND AVOID TRANSITIONAL HOUSING. THE THOUGHT IS IF WE GET THEM INTO HOUSING FIRST, WE CAN WORK ON THE DRUG TREATMENT. AFTER WE GET THEM HOUSED AND THEY’LL MAKE IT JUST THAT MUCH EASIER BECAUSE THEY’RE IN A SAFE PLACE. ULTIMATELY, WHAT WE KNOW IS THAT STABILIZATION PRODUCES GOOD RESULTS. WE KNOW THAT ON MANY MEASURES WE KNOW IT PRODUCES GOOD RESULTS FOR KIDS IN SCHOOLING AND EDUCATION. THE COMMUNITY SHELTER BOARD SAYS 7000 PEOPLE ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS OF COLUMBUS ANNUALLY, BUT THE BELIEF IS THAT MANY WILL BE HOUSED. JOIN ERIC AND HUFFMAN. I LIKE IT BECAUSE IT’S MY OWN. I DON’T HAVE TO BE BOTHERED. I CAN BE MY OWN PERSON AND I CAN COME AND GO WHEN I PLEASE. I DON’T HAVE A CURFEW. IT HELPS ME BE IDENTIFY WHO I AM AS A MAN. IF IT WASN’T FOR NATIONAL CHURCH, ONLY GOD IN HEAVEN KNOWS WHERE I WOULD BE RIGHT NOW. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE AND THIS PLACE IS WONDERFUL. CARING FOR PEOPLE IN NEED FOR DECADES WHEN CHRONICLE HOMELESS IN PITTSBURGH CONTINUES, WE TAKE YOU INSIDE ONE SHELTER, GIVING MEN 50 YEARS AND OLDER THE CHANCE TO REGAIN THEIR LIVES. I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’D BE RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN’T FOR THEM. THROUGHOUT THIS EPISODE OF CHRONICLE, WE’VE LOOKED AT THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS HERE IN PITTSBURGH AND IN OTHER MAJOR CITIES. THE PEOPLE BEING IMPACTED AND THE GROUPS HELPING TO TURN PEOPLE’S LIVES AROUND. WE KNOW THAT MANY OF OUR NEIGHBORS DO NOT HAVE A PERMANENT HOME TO CALL THEIR OWN. AND FOR COUNTLESS MEN AND WOMEN, IT’S A STRUGGLE TO FIND A WAY OUT OF TEMPORARY SITUATIONS. FOR NEARLY 90 YEARS, THERE IS ONE PITTSBURGH SHELTER THAT HAS BEEN A PARTNER IN HELPING MEN CREATE A PATHWAY TO INDEPENDENCE WITH COMPASSION AND CARE. DANIEL TIBBETS DID NOT KNOW WHERE TO GO AFTER LOSING HIS LONGTIME HOME. FOLLOWING THE UNEXPECTED DEATH OF HIS GIRLFRIEND. I WAS LOOKING AT, YOU KNOW, BEING OUT ON THE STREET AND I CALLED ALL THE SHELTERS AROUND. MOST OF THEM ARE NOT WHEELCHAIR ACCESSIBLE. YOU HAVE TO BE ABLE TO WALK UP STAIRS TO GET INTO THEM WITH NO STEADY INCOME. THE DISABLED NAVY VETERAN ENDED UP IN A TEMPORARY BOARDING HOUSE, CLOSE TO HIS FORMER HOME, BUT SAYS IT WAS A DANGEROUS AND AN UNHEALTHY SITUATION IN A LOT OF PEOPLE DOING DRUGS. PROSTITUTE ROUTES IN AND OUT OF THE PLACE THAT ALL CHANGED WHEN HIS SOCIAL WORKER VISITED AND FOUND BEDBUGS CRAWLING ON DANIEL. AND SHE SAID, WE GOT TO GET YOU OUT OF HERE. AND I SAID, PLEASE DO. AND THEY HOOKED ME UP HERE. DANIEL CREDITS VETERANS PLACE WITH CONNECTING HIM TO THE PEOPLE HERE AT SAINT JOSEPH HOUSE OF HOSPITAL CHARITY OPERATED BY CATHOLIC CHARITIES OF THE DIOCESE OF PITTSBURGH, A- PLACE HELPING MEN 50 YEARS OF A- AGE AND OLDER WHO ARE WITHOUT SHELTER TO REGAIN THEIR LIVES SINCE 1937. IT TAKES A LOT OF PEOPLE TO CARE, AND THEY DO. IT’S WHERE DANIEL HAS FOUND A PATH OUT OF HOMELESSNESS THAT SOMEONE WAS THERE TO HELP. ESPECIALLY THE PEOPLE HERE. THEY’RE AWESOME. I CAN’T SAY ENOUGH ABOUT WHAT THEY DO FOR US. IT’S A SAFE PLACE, YOU KNOW. THEY CARE ABOUT THE PEOPLE. YOU KNOW, IT PRETTY MUCH TURNED MY LIFE AROUND. IT IS SOMETHING THAT YOU SEE EVERY DAY. SAINT JOE’S PROGRAM COORDINATOR, JAMES GREER, SAYS THE PANDEMIC PUT GREATER STRESS ON PROGRAMS AND SERVICES FOR PEOPLE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS. WHEN I DO INTAKE, I AM YOU KNOW, I’M COMMUNICATING WITH PEOPLE THAT ARE AT VERY, VERY DESPERATE AND VULNERABLE POINTS IN THEIR LIFE, HE SAYS. PEOPLE HAVE TO UNDERSTAND THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE HOMELESS THAN THE MEN AND WOMEN WE MAY SEE IN TENTS. YOU KNOW, LIKE THERE ARE PEOPLE THAT THEIR HOUSING IS INSECURE. SO THEY’RE LIVING WITH FRIENDS. THEY’RE LIVING OUT OF THEIR CAR. IT’S IT’S IT’S EQUALLY AN INVISIBLE IDENTITY AS IT IS A VISIBLE IDENTITY. WHILE EVERY STORY IS DIFFERENT, THE COMMON THREAD TO THE PEOPLE JAMES AND HIS TEAM HELPS. THEY ALL WANT THE SAME THING. STABILITY, SOMETHING TO CALL HOME, SOMETHING PLACE WHERE THEY CAN JUST PUT THEIR HEAD DOWN, YOU KNOW, BECAUSE BEING OUT THERE EVERY DAY, WHEN THAT’S UNCERTAIN, THEN THAT WEARS YOU DOWN AND IT’S HARD TO SURVIVE. AND JUST HAVING THAT BASELINE CONSISTS NC IS ALL ANYBODY WANTS. IT’S ALL WHAT WE NEED PHYSICALLY AS PEOPLE. DANIEL FOUND THAT STABILITY AT SAINT JOSEPH’S HOUSE DIAGNOSED WITH DIABETES AND NEUROPATHY IN HIS LEFT LEG AND HANDS AND LOSING VISION IN HIS RIGHT EYE, HE’S NOW GETTING THE MEDICAL HELP AND COVERAGE HE NEEDS TO SOMEDAY BE ON HIS OWN. IT TOOK TIME. I REMEMBER WHEN I FIRST GOT OUT OF THE HOSPITAL, I COULDN’T EVEN STAND AFTER UNDERGOING SURGERY IN REHAB. DANIEL HAS MORE MOBILITY. I HAVE A LOT OF FRIENDS DOWN HERE NOW. YOU KNOW, PEOPLE THAT I CARE ABOUT, PEOPLE THAT CARE ABOUT ME AND, YOU KNOW, IT’S A NICE PLACE TO BE. ALL THANKS TO HIS TEAM OF SUPPORT NOW TAKING CARE OF A MAN WHO ONCE ENLISTED TO SERVE HIS COUNTRY. I WANT TO DO RIGHT BY THEM. AND I WANT TO MAKE SURE, LIKE AS WE SHOULD, AS A COUNTRY AS A WHOLE, IS TO TAKE CARE OF THE PEOPLE THAT TOOK SO GREAT A RISK AND ARE NOW HERE AND SOMETIMES CAN BE THE MOST VULNERABLE, ONE OF THE MORE VULNERABLE POPULATIONS IN OUR SOCIETY. JAMES SAYS HE’S INSPIRED BY DANIEL’S INNER STRENGTH AND GOODNESS, A MODEL RESIDENT NOW ON THE PATH TOWARD INDEPENDENCE. THERE ARE PEOPLE OUT THERE THAT CARE AND THIS PLACE IS ONE OF THEM. I DON’T KNOW WHERE I’D BE RIGHT NOW IF IT WASN’T FOR THEM. WHEN YOU’RE NOT STABLE AND THERE’S LIKE A LOT OF CHAOS, THERE’S NO HEALING OR GROWTH HAPPENING. CONTINUED EFFORTS TO HELP PITTSBURGHERS HEAL AND GET BACK ON THEIR FEET STILL AHEAD ON CHRONICLE, WE TIE ALL OF THE AVAILABLE RESOURCES TOGETHER FOR. FOR THE LAST HOUR, YOU’VE SEEN FIRSTHAND ACCOUNTS OF THE STATE OF HOMELESSNESS IN THE CITY OF PITTSBURGH. THE SITUATION NOT DEFINED SOLELY AS LIVING ON THE STREET, BUT A BROADER DEFINITION OF A PERSON WITHOUT A FIXED ADEQUATE OR CONSISTENT NIGHT TIME RESIDENCE AS ELECTED OFFICIALS AND NONPROFIT ORGANIZERS CONTINUE THEIR WORK, WE KNOW THE JOURNEY IS FAR FROM OVER. IF YOU OR SOMEONE YOU KNOW NEEDS HELP, THERE ARE A NUMBER OF RESOURCES AVAILABLE RIGHT NOW SECOND AVENUE COMMONS, DOWNTOWN PROVIDES SHELTER FOR ADULTS, THEIR PARTNERS, PETS AND POSSESSIONS. THE LIGHT OF LIFE RESCUE MISSION OFFERS A VARIETY OF MEDICAL MEAL AND CHAPEL SERVICES. THE ALLEGHENY COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES IS ALSO A GREAT PLACE FOR EMPLOYMENT TRAINING, FOOD AND TRANSPORTATION, MATSON ESSENTIALS. AND THAT’S ALL FOR CHRONICLE HOMELESS IN PITTSBURGH. ON BEHALF OF THE ENTIRE CHRONICLE TEAM, THANK YOU FOR WATCHING AND GOOD NIGHT.