PITTSBURGH — A proposed homeless shelter in Pittsburgh’s Polish Hill neighborhood is drawing both support and opposition from residents.
“There is no perfect place, but there is a very fragile community here who has been through a lot,” said Catherine McConnell, who has lived in Polish Hill for 25 years.
McConnell owns two homes, including a property next door to the proposed shelter site on Bigelow Boulevard.
The proposed shelter would serve as an overflow location when there is not enough room at Second Avenue Commons. Shuttles would transport up to 150 people to the Bigelow Boulevard location to sleep.
McConnell said she is concerned about bringing people who need mental health services, addiction treatment and other care into a residential neighborhood.
“I worry about that same population which is in need of care and mental health services and addiction help will be transported to this neighborhood,” McConnell said. “This is a neighborhood that backs up to a residential street with lots of family.”
The proposal comes as Second Avenue Commons continues to face concerns about overcrowding and public safety.
During visits to the downtown shelter, large crowds of people can often be seen outside, spilling onto the sidewalk and stretching toward the courthouse.
An 11 Investigates report this summer found that police were called to Second Avenue Commons 500 times in six months. Just last weekend, a stabbing was reported near the shelter.
McConnell said those incidents have raised concerns about safety downtown.
“It seems to me that there are a lot of public safety issues happening at Second Avenue that are not in control,” she said. “People don’t feel safe down there. I know people who work downtown and avoid that area because they don’t feel safe walking there.”
However, not everyone in Polish Hill opposes the proposal.
One resident told us he is “pro-shelter regardless of the proximity to his home” and praised the county’s presentation.
Another resident said the shelter would give people experiencing homelessness access to medical care, connections to long-term housing and a place to stay warm during the winter.
McConnell and other opponents said they understand the need for additional shelter space but believe Polish Hill is not the right location.
“People downtown know it’s a problem,” McConnell said. “And they think they’re solving part of the problem by sending these residents here.”
The proposal is still in its early stages. A zoning board meeting is scheduled for later this month, where residents will have an opportunity to voice their support or concerns.
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