SECOND AVENUE COMMONS | PHOTO BY AIDAN MCCLAIN

Second Avenue Commons is reopening this week, welcoming 92 displaced homeless people and a few pets back after a fire on June 4 forced the closing of the Downtown shelter.  

Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey, the staff at Second Avenue Commons and other local leaders last week discussed the organization’s reopening and future. 

“The power of Pittsburgh is in the power of collaboration, and this couldn’t have happened unless everyone came together,” Gainey said.

Opened on Nov. 23, 2022, the facility is a collaboration between Pittsburgh Mercy, one of the largest community health and social service providers and employers in southwestern Pennsylvania; UPMC; Allegheny County Department of Human Services; Community Kitchen Pittsburgh and Second Avenue Commons Inc.

It is designed as a “come as you are” year-round, low-barrier shelter, in which people 18 and older can come on their own, with their partners and/or with their pets. 

The facility accepts appointments and walk-ins. It offers primary care services, behavioral health assessment, substance use treatment services, foot care, gynecologic care and many other services. 

The UPMC Health Clinic at Second Avenue Commons has served more than 800 patients, and they’ve had more than 3,500 individual visits with providers. 

“For the past two years, the health clinic has been a place of safety and healing for patients. We can’t wait to welcome everyone back,” Medical Director Anita B. Leon-Jhong said.

The three-alarm fire in June, which started in an overheated air-conditioning unit on the roof, displaced 175 homeless people, injured four firefighters and two civilians and forced authorities to provide temporary shelter for 11 nights at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center. 

All five floors of the building sustained heavy smoke and water damage. On June 15, Pittsburgh Mercy opened a temporary emergency shelter in a gymnasium at its 1200 Reedsdale St. location in the city’s Chateau neighborhood for the 92 displaced individuals and their pets. 

Pittsburgh Mercy will be reopening its daytime Engagement Center on Oct.  29 at Second Avenue Commons with expanded days and hours from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., seven days a week. Among some of the services are coffee, grab-and-go lunches, charging stations, computer access, health services, distribution of hygiene kits, laundry, showers, mail services, housing and support services and help with obtaining ID cards and SNAP benefits

On Nov. 15, Pittsburgh Mercy also will reopen its Winter Overflow Shelter at Second Avenue Commons. That will operate from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., seven days a week, and will serve up to 40 people.