Second Avenue Commons, the unique, year-round, low-barrier emergency shelter, engagement center, winter overflow shelter, primary care center, and single room occupancy units partnership, marked one year of service to adults who are experiencing homelessness, their partners, and their pets, on Nov. 22. Located at 700 Second Ave. in Downtown Pittsburgh, the facility has been in high demand and at capacity since opening on November 22, 2022.
Pittsburgh Mercy, one of the region’s largest social services providers with over 70 years of experience in homeless services, operates the 92-person emergency shelter, the 40-person winter overflow shelter, and the engagement center, which connects individuals to wrap-around services and supports, including behavioral health. UPMC operates the Second Avenue Commons Health Center, which provides primary care and behavioral health services. NDC Asset Management operates the 43 single room occupancy (SRO) units at Second Avenue Commons. Community Kitchen Pittsburgh provides the meal service.
“From Nov. 22, 2022 and through Nov. 21, 2023, Pittsburgh Mercy’s compassionate and dedicated team has helped 850 Second Avenue Commons guests in its engagement center, 489 guests in its year-round emergency shelter, and 625 guests in its winter overflow shelter, and provided over 62,760 meals,” said Michael Turk, vice president for Community & Wellness Services, at Pittsburgh Mercy, in a statement to the New Pittsburgh Courier. “Our engagement center also connected 314 people to the UPMC Second Avenue Commons Health Center, 183 people to substance use treatment services, and 153 people to behavioral health services.”
Turk commended the Second Avenue Commons team for also connecting 505 individuals to benefits and providing resume and job application assistance to 347 people. 134 were connected to employment, and 69 secured employment. 143 guests received help obtaining identification cards, which are needed to access housing, employment, benefits, and other services. 59 vulnerable individuals moved to permanent housing.
“Emergency shelter is an important part of the homeless services continuum. For many of those we serve, it is an important first step toward recovery,” Turk said. “The engagement center and the wrap-around services we provide are equally vital to an individual’s long-term success. Whether it’s linking people to housing, employment, benefits, or to behavioral or physical health care services, we meet people where they are, encourage them to choose the goals they would like to work on, and empower them in their journey to recovery. The path is highly complex and different for every person we are privileged to serve.”
In its first year of operation, the UPMC Second Avenue Commons Health Center provided services to more than 500 people, including primary care, mental health, eye exams, and assistance in navigating additional health care needs.
Individuals and families who need support finding shelter space or a place to stay can contact the Allegheny Link for assistance at 866-730-2368, Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. A list of Allegheny County shelters with contact information and other details can be found at connect.alleghenycounty.us.