'There is money to solve this problem:' Homeless shelter on Smithfield Street closes
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) - The Smithfield Street shelter downtown has officially closed as of 7 a.m. Wednesday morning.
It closed some three months later that usual this year, and its shuttering has prompted a mixed reaction from the community.
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It was only supposed to be open and operating during winter months but it has stayed open longer this year due to an increased homeless population.
Now, the county is closing the Smithfield Street shelter saying that they have found an alternative space for those in need.
"The nice thing about some of the other facilities is that people don't have to leave during the day there is more opportunity for wrap-around services so when they found themselves in those other locations we can do a better job connecting them to the whole rest of the system," said Allegheny County Department of Human Services director Erin Dalton.
Around 7 a.m. on Wednesday morning, people began clearing out of the area around the Smithfield United Church of Christ. Many here were regulars at the temporary shelter in the church's gymnasium but beginning today, these people will have to find another place to go.
"Overwhelmingly residents from downtown, people who work downtown, even business owners downtown have said, 'we don't want this to close,' because folks who understand reality realize that Smithfield was doing a service, not just for the residence of the Smithfield shelter, but also for anyone who is downtown every day," said Allegheny County Council Member at Large, Bethany Hallam.
Hallam feels that most of these people will go back to living in the streets or in tents in the park, or under the bridges, instead of going to places designated by the county.
Trevor Jones has been experiencing homelessness for some time and when he heard the shelter was closing, he was caught off guard.
He also said that because of the drug usage he sees around the shelter, he isn't surprised.
"It honestly blew my mind, but because of certain activities and what's going on, it doesn't surprise me," he said. "Honestly, yes, a lot of people lost somewhere to be at night, I do understand that. But based on what I have seen, it was a very healthy decision."
Jones said he is working hard to pull himself out of poverty and homelessness and both he and Hallam agree that more can and should be done to fight homelessness and the may problems that go with it.
"There is money to solve this problem, it just takes the will power of the people who have the authority to change things to actually step up and say we are going to make this a priority," Hallam said. "We are going to keep downtown clean and safe. And we are going to keep our unhoused population clean and safe, all at the same time. Both of those things can happen."
The closure comes after months of complaints from downtown business owners and people who work in the area. Some have said they don't feel safe and others have said the area is unsanitary.