City cuts back time on annual Sleep-In for the Homeless

The fourth annual Sleep-In for the Homeless took place Friday at Schenley Plaza — except… The fourth annual Sleep-In for the Homeless took place Friday at Schenley Plaza — except attendees didn’t “sleep-in.”

Community Human Services planned for the event to run from 6 p.m. until 6 a.m. But the organization received a phone call early on Friday from city officials, who informed the group that city ordinance does not permit sleeping in a public park. Organizers then decided to conclude the event, which drew in about 200 people, at 11 p.m.

On the event website, CHS Development Director Diane McMahon expressed her disappointment. She said that on Wednesday afternoon, the city was questioning the location of the event.

“This was a total surprise since the mayor’s office and council had offered proclamations for the ‘Sleep-In for the Homeless,’” McMahon said on the organization’s website.

Mayor Luke Ravenstahl issued a proclamation declaring Oct. 21 “Sleep-In For The Homeless Day” to honor the dedication of Community Human Services.

“We are very frustrated that this happened when we paid for the event, alerted the city and knew that other groups had slept out at this same location,” McMahon said.

CEO of Community Human Services Adrienne Walnoha said at the event that she was also frustrated by the change.

“It would have been nice to know ahead of time,” Walnoha said. “But when life hands you lemons, you make lemonade.”  

Walnoha acknowledged the irony of the situation when she explained to the crowd that the homeless encounter the same predicament of where to sleep on a daily basis.

Elizabeth Zinni, a senior at Slippery Rock University, attended the event, but was unhappy that she wouldn’t be able to sleep outside and experience what the homeless have to do every day.

“I’m disappointed that we won’t get the full experience,” she said..

Despite the setback, the fundraising event successfully continued throughout the evening with guest MCs Mike Stout and Sean McDowell. As part of the registration for the event, participants donated $25 to Community Human Services.

Attendees took a tour of the city to discuss problems such as where they would sleep if they were homeless.

CHS organized the event to raise awareness about the homeless situation and to fundraise for about 1,500 of 2,500 local homeless individuals in Allegheny County. The organization supports the homeless population in Pittsburgh by offering a number of services such as housing, rental assistance, food and health care.

The organization also raised money through donations from several local universities and organizations including Pitt, Carlow University, Eat’n Park Hospitality Group, Highmark and UPMC.

The audience enjoyed two songs from The Raging Grannies, a group of elderly women who sing about the frustration of social and economic issues.

Pitt alum David King followed The Raging Grannies with his song “Raise the Roof.” The acoustic-guitar player sung the Sleep-In anthem expressing his desire for better housing.

Sleep-In co-chairs Renny Clark and Bob Macey presented six individuals with the “Home Is Where the Heart Is” awards, accolades bestowed upon individuals who have given back to the community extensively. Recipients this year included community leaders such as Lynne Hayes-Freeland of KDKA News.

“Everyone deserves to have a cheerleader in their lives,” Hayes-Freeland said. “Sometimes it’s a roommate or a friend who says ‘I care.’ Tonight you are cheerleaders for the homeless.”

According to a survey done by the Department of Human Services, Allegheny County has nearly 2,500 homeless people, rendering it difficult for the community to avoid the problem.

Co-chair Clark told the audience that sometimes a simple hello can make a person’s day.

For years, Clark and his family served Christmas dinner for the homeless in Downtown Pittsburgh. They soon became familiar with a a man named Harold. The softspoken man dressed in army apparel would always sit quietly at the dinner table for a while before gathering up the courage to ask for his dinner.

Clark eventually encouraged his teenage son Paul to make conversation with Harold, and the two became became friends.

Three years later, Paul returned from college to help out with another Christmas dinner. When he couldn’t find Harold, he asked his father for information about him. Clark had to tell his son that Harold had frozen to death earlier that week.

For Harold as well as for the countless others who face winters without the guarantee of heat or shelter, Clark continues supporting Community Human Services year after year at the “Sleep-In For the Homeless.”