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An Ordinance of the County of Allegheny, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, amending the Allegheny County Code of Ordinances through the establishment of a new Chapter 300, entitled “Housing” in order to establish uniform procedures governing the closure or reduction in size of homeless shelters funded by Allegheny County.
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Whereas, Allegheny County from time to time funds the operation of various shelters for homeless individuals within the County via contracts executed between the County and service providers; and
Whereas, some of the funded shelters are seasonal in nature, and are only in operation during periods of cold weather; and
Whereas, during the week of May 22, 2023, the Allegheny County Department of Human Services set the closure of the winter shelter in the gymnasium of the Smithfield United Church of Christ for the end of June, promising at that time to find space for the shelter’s residents; and
Whereas, during a subsequent meeting of the Homeless Advisory Board Andy Halfhill, the Department’s homeless services administrator, said the agency is working with Light of Life Rescue Mission, Second Avenue Commons and East End Cooperative Ministries to provide space for some of the 125 people who will be displaced by the closure; and
Whereas, as of the end of May, 2023, approximately 600 people had sought housing at the Smithfield shelter in the last 30 days, according to the shelter’s operator; and
Whereas, for that same timespan, the Department identified around 125 people who they consider to be regular residents, according to Director Erin Dalton, who attended the Homeless Advisory Board meeting; and
Whereas, this group of individuals with identifiable special needs, Dalton said, require another option after the Smithfield shelter closes, noting that “Ideally, we get on top of this issue in a way we haven’t in the last year.” Dalton continued: “Hopefully we bring on enough [emergency housing] capacity that’s safe for people.”; and
Whereas, ...
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