Editorial: 1-stop shop for Westmoreland human services is good for all

Westmoreland County is considering putting its various service operations under one roof.

The idea is to take the offices of the Human Services Department and move them all into the South Greengate Road building that used to be home to the county housing authority.

“There’s nothing in stone yet,” Commissioner Sean Kertes said. “We want to consolidate our human services and create a walk-up center that is accessible to the public. It makes sense to find a location that has easy access, parking and is on the bus route.”

It does make sense. In a rare move of governmental good judgment, the idea would be beneficial to the county and the people.

On the county’s side, it would take 300 employees and put them in one place rather than spread across offices in the courthouse, other Greensburg locations and Westmoreland County Community College near Youngwood.

That would be one location to maintain. There could be mutual support and economies of scale.

But the benefits to the people are greater.

In 2023, assorted service agencies supporting children, behavior health patients, the elderly, veterans and those dealing with drug addiction were put under the single umbrella of a new Westmoreland Human Services Department. Organizationally, it was a smart decision. Those agencies frequently work together in support of a client or family with overlapping needs.

For the same reason, having one location that can act as a hub for services makes it easier for those needing help.

The Children’s Bureau, for example, could be involved with a family referred for concerns of abuse or neglect related to addiction. The Area Agency on Aging often deals with veterans. Behavioral Health and Developmental Services could be supporting foster families. The overlap between them is a kaleidoscope of involvement.

Kertes pointed to access, parking and bus routes as selling points. All of that is important. A family wrangling multiple children to get to several appointments is better able to do that when it is one easy trip. When you are talking about those with behavioral concerns or cognitive issues, it can be even more important to be as accessible as possible.

There is the added benefit of it helping the housing authority utilize a space that has been underused since the headquarters was relocated in 2016.

A decision has not been made. Human Services Director Rob Hamilton says options are being investigated. Exploring all possibilities is the responsible thing to do, and the county is obliged to do no less.

But it’s hard to see how you can improve on a proposal that appears to help the county, the employees and the people.