Submitted by BusinessNobody7080 t3_zuq0nx in pittsburgh
Hey Yinz! I’m a new pittsburgher and I’m wondering if there is someone to call to help temporarily house someone experiencing homelessness in these dangerous temperatures. I just saw someone out begging on Braddock and Penn Ave. Gave him a few bucks but I’m wondering if there’s anything else I can do.
Edited to reflect the correct street corner
The other option is to die. Some people do that.
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Evidence?
Hi Queasy - Rusty is right regarding some (but not all) of the panhandlers. There is a 'pimp-like' network that runs the heavy traffic intersections (Liberty Bridge, East Ohio St., etc). I regularly see them get dropped off/picked up out of the same van. It's like dropping kids off at school, only they pass them their backpack, phone, and cardboard sign.
I was at the red light at the end of the Rocks Bridge and witnessed one of their shift changes. Guy jumped out of a van, other guy handed him the sign and left.
Omg so it’s like prostitution only they cut out the blowjob you just pay them? Wtf
Liberty tunnel and 51 too.
I know this article was posted yesterday about warming shelters opening early due to the extreme temps. I’m not sure about other opportunities, but I hope this at least offers a bit more information about what Pittsburgh provides
Thanks that’s helpful!
You mean Penn Ave and Braddock? There are always people begging there. They have a place to go, but that's a busy intersection which makes it more lucrative to beg.
Yeah, it appears they have shifts of some kind as I've seen one being picked up and another being dropped off. It's a lucrative time to panhandle with the cold weather plus Christmas generosity. You can definitely look up the closest warming shelter and give them the address too.
I have noticed there’s particular folks at particular times of day, that’s a good idea to have the address on hand and double check that they have somewhere to go.
You can be proud you helped get them their fix before returning to wherever they are staying.
Thanks for assuming that every person experiencing homelessness is a drug addict AND assuming that you yourself wouldn’t turn to drugs if you were stuck outside in such extreme weather. You’re a real winner.
Someone wrote something that totally changed my view. If I'm going to be sleeping under a bridge (or any other roughing-it situation) I certainly wouldn't be doing it sober.
Yep it was Penn and Braddock - glad to know they have somewhere to go! Thank you.
Even a heavy blanket and a box of handwarmers will help. No comments or questions. Humans being helpful to fellow humans.
Hand warmers are a great idea!
Not sure if this is what you are looking for, but a lot of young adults aging out of foster care experience homelessness and locally, Auberle has a lot of programs to support this. Below is one program, that would allow you to volunteer as a host home for a young person experiencing homelessness. Additionally- bigburgh.com is a huge reason to share with anyone who has needs. It is an excellent resource.
Host Homes
The Auberle Host Homes program can provide short-term (6 months) housing stabilization support and case management to young adults ages 18-24 who are residing with an extended family member, friend/friend’s family, or other non-parent/non-grandparent support as an alternative to entering shelter. In some instances, Auberle may be able to match a young person in need of short-term housing with a community volunteer who is willing to host them. This program can also serve qualifying youth with children.
If you are interested in becoming a Host Home, please contact Madeline McGrady at 412-522-0105 or madelinem@auberle.org.
For more information or to be referred to either program, please contact Allegheny Link at 1-866-730-2368 and inquire about Auberle HOPE or Host Homes.
This guy happened to be older but I’ll definitely be noting these resources for future reference! Thank you.
Please ignore the heartless assholes in this thread that think that any evidence of organized panhandling is reason enough to ignore all homeless people.
Your heart is in the right place, but it's cute that you think that everyone begging on a street corner is homeless.
Homeless or not, no one is going to choose begging in this weather over an office job. Over retail, maybe….retail workers are treated like sh** in this country.
Not sure who to call, but downtown places to go include
Second Avenue Commons https://secondavenuecommons.org/
Smithfield St Winter Shelter (usually open 7pm-7am but currently open 24/7 until the morning if 12/27) 620 Smithfield Street
Resolve crisis center is right there a block from penn and Braddock. People can walk in and stay the night, even if the rooms are full they can stay overnight on a mat. They may be aware of Resolve.
Bigburgh.com has many resources and info
Catholic Charities of the Diocese of Pittsburgh, I work there and they have various programs available, but it depends on several factors.
Prayers for anyone that has to face sleeping outside when it is cold. Especially lately. I passed a guy coming back to the Fort Pitt Bridge from Grant St who had on 5-6 hoodies. I hope that he found somewhere warm to go.
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Amazing. After just giving Ukraine 45 billion more you’d think we’d have zero homeless here in America and if so, be able to shelter them. Neva any money for that tho 🤔.
Shocking news: you never just have to do one thing.
I’m sorry. Did we fund and solve homelessness /help poor people here in America? If we did that well then I guess sending hundreds of billions to other countries would be just fine. I don’t understand why it is “political” or “republican” if you literally want to make sure there are no homeless here, adequate housing, before funding other countries homeless. Strange…
I didn’t ever suggest it was republican, allocations of funding is always political though.
I agree with you in many ways, I just think the richest country on earth could solve homelessness and back geopolitical stability if there was the will. I don’t think it is an either or, and I don’t think it would be beneficial to focus on one and ignore the other. Do you think they are a binary choice? Maybe you could explain that, and I will listen.
I hope you continue to push for better services and opportunities to help the homeless community, I hope others will continue to push for those around the world who suffer.
We can want more than one thing, especially when one does not hurt the other.
Grassyhobo t1_j1kvhqi wrote
I'm homeless, and at this point, you are either prepared for this Artic Blast or you are indoors. I'm glad that you gave him a few bucks, but he knows by now if he can take this kind of cold. It's not child's play. It was -26 degrees in my city. No one can handle that outside without some serious gear.