Second Avenue Commons residents to relocate to temporary North Side location

Allegheny County has found a new location on Pittsburgh’s North Side to relocate about 100 homeless people who had been staying at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center after a fire closed the Second Avenue Commons homeless shelter.

Erin Dalton, the county’s human services director, said Saturday that displaced residents at Second Avenue Commons will instead be transferred to a facility at 1200 Reedsdale St. on the North Side, operated by Pittsburgh Mercy — one of the agencies that staffed Second Avenue Commons.

County officials had originally planned moving those displaced to the Family Links Building in the city’s Allentown neighborhood, but will no longer do so because of the opening at 1200 Reedsdale St.

At Pittsburgh Mercy, emergency shelter guests will have access to restrooms, showers, bunk beds, meals, laundry, air conditioning, and other services.

“Pittsburgh Mercy has served people who are experiencing homelessness for over 70 years. This most vulnerable population needs our help now more than ever,” said Tony Beltran, president and CEO of Pittsburgh Mercy. “In keeping with the traditions of our founding Sisters of Mercy, we rise, we help, and we give hope to the most vulnerable in times of greatest need.”

Pittsburgh Mercy had been serving upwards of 150 people a night at the Convention Center, Beltran said in a statement.

The Reedsdale Street facility “was always a preferred location for us,” Dalton said. She said the new location became available because of the “diligent work of our partners at Pittsburgh Mercy and the City of Pittsburgh.”

“It meets our requirements in terms of space for approximately 100 people seeking emergency shelter, is air conditioned, and its location on the North Side provides excellent access to transit and downtown where many Second Avenue Commons residents need services,” Dalton said in a statement. “The medical clinic that was previously at Second Avenue Commons is also going to relocate to 1200 Reedsdale. Finally, 1200 Reedsdale has the added benefit of being in a less residential neighborhood than the Allentown Family Links building.”

Dalton thanked Family Links for offering their space and support, as well as the convention center for opening their space for the past two weeks.

Second Avenue Commons was damaged June 4 when an air conditioning unit caught fire. Mayor Ed Gainey signed a disaster emergency declaration three days later, which requires the city’s Emergency Management, Planning and Permits, Licenses and Inspections departments to coordinate a response for temporary shelter facilities and a “swift repair and reopening” of Second Avenue Commons.

Dalton said the county is looking for additional emergency shelter options until Second Avenue Commons can be reopened, which may take months.

Homeless people should contact Allegheny Link for support, Dalton said. In-person services are available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., at the Human Services Building, 1 Smithfield St. They can also call 1-866-730-2368.

People can donate online at Pittsburgh Mercy’s website.

Those interested in volunteering can email Brendan Copp at Brendan.Copp@pittsburghmercy.org. Items most needed include men’s and women’s sweatpants, t-shirts, boxers, socks, slide sandals and flip flops.