Volunteers promote homelessness awareness

On any given night, more than 100 people sleep on the streets of Pittsburgh. Tonight, that… On any given night, more than 100 people sleep on the streets of Pittsburgh. Tonight, that number will climb to over 400.

The jump will come as local advocacy group Community Human Services Corporation hosts its annual Sleep-In for the Homeless on the steps of the City-County Building, Downtown, from 6:30 p.m. Friday to 6:30 a.m. Saturday.

The group will honor Pitt Student Government Board member Molly Stieber during the sleep-in. Stieber and event organizers hope the event will spread awareness about the issues of homelessness and substandard housing in Pittsburgh.

There are currently about 2,500 people receiving homeless benefits in Allegheny County, with about 120 who are consistently unsheltered, according to a recent study conducted by the county’s Department of Human Services.

Steiber was one of few Pitt volunteers to participate in the sleep-in last year.

“It was really disappointing actually, because Pitt is one of the largest sponsors of this event,” she said. “Living in Oakland, I think a lot of students get kind of jaded with the homelessness issue. We see it every day.”

Stieber’s dedication has earned her the “Home is Where the Heart Is” award, said Diane McMahon, director of Community Human Services Corporation. The award is given to student leaders from local universities and colleges who have “dedicated their life efforts to building student leadership, engagement and experiential learning,” according to the group’s website.

“Molly has done tremendous work for us so far,” McMahon said. “We are hoping more Pitt students will join us this year, and if they can’t come out on Friday night that they will consider volunteering some other time. We’re nothing without volunteers.”

During the event, volunteers will host tours of the Severe Weather Emergency Shelter on Smithfield Street, Downtown. Participants will also tour a number of underpasses around the city, where plaques are mounted to commemorate homeless people who have died.

“We’re going to bunk up around 11 p.m. and sleep as best we can overnight,” McMahon said.

McMahon expects a number of homeless Pittsburghers to join the sleep-in on the stairs of the City-County Building, though she is not sure how many might show up.

“It can be surprising for the homeless population to see an event like this,” she said. “Normally they are getting chased off private property by police and security guards, and they are forced to sleep in more reclusive places like back allies and beneath bridges. We hope that they will feel welcome.”

The group has presented information at the past three SGB meetings, encouraging students to donate and volunteer.

“A lot of these issues are a matter of awareness,” McMahon said. “College students have the energy and know-how to really help out.”

McMahon said her organization works in close conjunction with Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services to deliver benefits to the homeless population.

Michael Lindsay, housing program administrator for the department, said Allegheny County receives $15.5 million per year to combat homelessness.

A vast majority of that funding — up to $13.2 million — comes from the federal government, he said. The remaining funds come from local and state governments and taxes.

“Homelessness is an extremely complex issue, but we have a large number of resources here in Pittsburgh and Allegheny County,” Lindsay said.

He said one of the most alarming aspects of his job involves child homelessness. There are currently about 875 homeless children in and around the city, he said.

“Of course, a vast majority of these kids and their families are utilizing the services we provide, whether it be transitional housing or subsidized apartments,” Lindsay said. “Still, the uncertainty and the threat of homelessness is not something children should have to deal with.”

Back on campus, Stieber shared an anecdote that she said sums up the goals of the sleep-in.

“Last year, we toured the area beneath one of the bridges, and we saw a group of people huddled together trying to sleep,” Stieber said. “We brought them food and extra clothes, and they were so thankful. Students need to see what it’s really like to live on the street. It’s very humbling.”