Homelessness is a problem people often try not to see.

There are places where that takes effort. In urban areas, homelessness is more visible — in park encampments and on sidewalks, where people learn to look past it.

That is homelessness in Pittsburgh, much as it is in New York City, Philadelphia or other major cities. But in smaller communities, like those that pepper West­moreland County, homelessness can be harder to see — and, even when you know someone is unhoused, easier to miss.

In Allegheny County in general, and Pittsburgh specifically, homelessness has been under a brighter spotlight in recent years, as efforts to clear parks and remove tents have run into complications — including a 2024 fire at the Second Avenue Commons shelter and winter flooding.

But how does invisible homelessness get addressed?

In Westmoreland County, the issue is not blatant or uncomfortable in the way it can be in a dense city, forcing both an averted gaze and concerted action. The number of people who are truly unsheltered is far lower. While Allegheny County has 630 shelter beds spread across 13 locations, Westmoreland County officials estimate only about 25 people are unsheltered.

That does not mean the homelessness problem in more suburban and rural areas ends there. In much of Pennsylvania, homelessness is less about sleeping on the street than it is about living without stability.

Some people move almost like nomads, shifting between friends and family — a night here, a weekend there. Sometimes a car becomes a mobile home base, allowing a daily work life that keeps unhoused status largely unseen. When all else fails, a short-term motel stay might be an option in bad weather.

We know the problem is larger than the two dozen or so people identified as unsheltered in Westmoreland County because, when shelter space becomes available, it fills almost immediately. Those who are invisibly homeless may not be seen, but they are watching for help to appear.

That is, in part, because homelessness is a slippery slope — especially in icy weather.

In February, problems ignored in August cannot be dismissed. Older residents are more vulnerable to the cold. An oil bill can be put off in summer, when a cold shower is an inconvenience; it cannot be delayed in the dead of winter. A car may serve as temporary shelter when it is 75 degrees. It becomes a hazard when it is closer to zero.

In Pittsburgh, the numbers can overwhelm, as people line up for available shelter space on the coldest days or when the worst weather threatens. In Westmoreland County, the help — like the problem — can be less obvious. Union Mission in Latrobe has just 24 beds and another dozen transitional housing units. With smaller numbers, efforts can be more proactive than reactive — if the resources are there.

Homelessness is not one-size-fits-all, driven by issues that include a lack of affordable housing, unemployment, medical bills and mental health challenges. The response to homelessness, likewise, is a Cinderella slipper. What fits one community will not fit another.

That understanding matters. Communities that recognize homelessness looks different from place to place are better positioned to respond in ways that fit local needs — and to do so before winter turns instability into emergency.

The most important part of any response is attention. Homelessness cannot be addressed if it is not seen, and it cannot be met with the right tools if it is misunderstood. In Westmoreland County, where homelessness is often quieter and less visible, responding well begins with seeing it clearly — for what it is, and for what it requires.

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