Residents affected by Second Avenue Commons fire will move to North Side

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

0 3 minutes read

Nearly two weeks after a fire damaged Pittsburgh's Second Avenue Commons homeless shelter, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services announced a new temporary location for displaced residents. DHS Director Erin Dalton said in a news release Saturday that people displaced by the fire could move to 1200 Reedsdale Street on the North Side. This is a change from plans announced Friday to open space in a building on Climax Street in the Allentown neighborhood, plans that Dalton said will not come to fruition at this time. “At this time, we will no longer consider moving anyone to the Allentown Family Links building,” Dalton said in part. “We thank Family Links for offering support and space during this crisis. We will continue to pursue additional emergency housing options to help bridge the gap until Second Avenue Commons can be reopened, and as we announced yesterday, we believe the timeline for reopening could take months. as temporary shelter since the fire, which displaced 180 people. Officials noted that amenities were essential to providing adequate space for residents. caravan or bathroom caravan if necessary. But air conditioning is essential,” county communications director Abigail Gardner previously told Pittsburgh's Action News 4. “We're on the verge of a very serious heat wave, and there are already people medically vulnerable who are medically vulnerable. The North Side location will be equipped with air conditioning, the department said. DHS will work with Pittsburgh Mercy, which operates the North Side location. Dalton said the location will accommodate about 100 people and will provide “excellent access to public transportation” to downtown A medical clinic based at Second Avenue Commons will also move to the Reedsdale building A news release from Pittsburgh Mercy said people would be moved to the temporary shelter on Saturday. said homeless people should not come to the emergency shelter but instead contact Allegheny Link or call the department at 1-866-730-2368.

DHS Director Erin Dalton said in a news release Saturday that people displaced by the fire may move to a location at 1200 Reedsdale Street on the North Side. This is a change from plans announced Friday to open space in a building on Climax Street in the Allentown neighborhood, plans that Dalton said will not come to fruition at this time.

“At this time, we will no longer consider moving anyone to the Allentown Family Links building,” Dalton said in part. “We thank Family Links for offering support and space during this crisis. We will continue to pursue additional emergency housing options to help bridge the gap until Second Avenue Commons can be reopened, and as we announced yesterday, we believe the timeline for reopening could take time. month.

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center has been serving as a temporary shelter since the fire, which displaced 180 people.

Officials noted that amenities were essential to providing adequate space for residents.

“We're looking for a place where they have showers and bathrooms on site or we can bring in a shower trailer or a restroom trailer if needed. But air conditioning is essential,” said Abigail Gardner, county communications director , at Action News 4 in Pittsburgh. “We're about to have a very serious heat wave, and there are already medically vulnerable people staying at the shelter. So putting people in a well-ventilated area, without air conditioning, is just not right. secure.”

The north side location will be equipped with air conditioning, the department said.

DHS will work with Pittsburgh Mercy, which operates the North Side site. Dalton said the location will accommodate about 100 people and will offer “great public transportation access” to downtown. A medical clinic based at Second Avenue Commons will also move to the Reedsdale building.

A press release from Pittsburgh Mercy said people would be moved to a temporary shelter on Saturday.

DHS said people experiencing homelessness should not come to the emergency shelter but instead contact Allegheny Link or call the department at 1-866-730-2368.