Pittsburgh City Council is considering a proposal to give nearly $1.2 million to local organizations that work to address homelessness and provide emergency shelter.
Auberle, a McKeesport-based social services agency, would receive the largest contribution — nearly $340,000 — to use for homelessness prevention and rapid rehousing services.
Pittsburgh Mercy Health Systems would receive $200,000 for its Bethlehem Haven Emergency Shelter, while East End Cooperative Ministry and Womanspace East would get $125,000 each for their emergency shelters.
The measure would provide $140,000 to the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to help fund their homeless management information system and coordinated entry programs, which assist homeless people in finding necessary emergency services.
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Additionally, FamilyLinks, Goodwill of Southwestern Pennsylvania, the Salvation Army and the Women’s Center and Shelter of Greater Pittsburgh would receive funding for their shelters.
The money would come from federal Emergency Solutions Grant program funding.
The measure was introduced at City Council without discussion Tuesday. It could be ready for a preliminary vote as early as next week.
This comes as city officials have said they hope to bring solutions for Pittsburgh’s homeless populations amid what many have called an affordable housing crisis. City officials have suggested a number of possible solutions, ranging from tiny houses and limited-equity housing cooperatives to accessory dwelling units and projects that would convert unused office space into residential units.
