Jeremiah's Place Offers Shelter To Pittsburgh Families In Times Of Crisis

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Many families across the country face times of crisis, and here in the Pittsburgh area, there's a place where those people can turn to get them through tough times.

"It breaks our heart."

That's how Lou Ann Ross reacted when she heard about a woman and her daughter arrested for doing heroin in their car in Greensburg with a 6-month-old baby in the backseat.

Ross is the executive director of Jeremiah's Place in Kingsley Center in East Liberty.

Open 24 hours a day and seven days a week, the shelter is a safe haven for children under the age of 6, whose parents or guardians are stressed out, and feeling they're at the end of their rope.

Ross told KDKA-TV's Ralph Iannotti, "When we hear stories [like the two arrests in Greensburg], we think what can we do to make sure that parents know we're here, so they can leave their child here and keep them safe."

"At Jeremiah's Place, there's no judgement, no questions, you fill out the papers, and take care of what you need to take care," Ross said.

Children can stay at the shelter for up to 72 hours, at no cost in emergency situations.

Jeremiah's Place is funded by corporations and private donations.

It's been open for less than 18 months, and has already provided shelter for about 200 kids from "crisis families."

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