Kaitlyn Hughes | features editor

Sean Diggs was staying at Second Avenue Commons when a three-alarm fire erupted on June 4.

“[It was] a tragic incident,” Diggs said. “A lot of people lost their things.”

Despite the hurt everyone felt from the loss, he said shelter officials did their best to support the people staying there.

On Oct. 28, Pittsburgh Mercy, a community health and social service providers, reopened its Emergency Shelter at Second Avenue Commons to the public.

As before, the same facilities remain in the shelter providing 95 beds for those seeking housing, single-room occupancy units, showers, hot meals twice a day, mailing services and laundry opportunities.

The following day their Engagement Center was reopened, which provides health care, legal services, employment opportunities, options for housing and more.

When the fire struck

It was about 1 p.m. when the alarms first sounded, said Linda Metropulos, board member of Second Avenue Commons.

The fire started on the roof of the third story of the building.

Although the fire never entered the building, there was a lot of smoke and water damage from both the sprinklers and efforts of the fire department, Metropulos said. It caused about $2.5 million in damages.

After an investigation was completed, Meteopulos said there was no specific determination for what caused the fire.

With over 100 people displaced from the shelter, within two hours, they found a solution.

The David L. Lawrence Convention Center transformed one of its halls into an interim living space, while the shelter worked on a long-term plan.

After about two weeks, Pittsburgh Mercy opened an emergency shelter in a gymnasium at its 1200 Reedsdale St. in Pittsburgh’s North Side neighborhood.

Michael Turk, the vice president of community and wellness services at Pittsburgh Mercy, said the biggest challenge was navigating what the immediate response was going to be.

“You have all of these people that are temporarily residing in this location, and now you have to move them, and you have to find some place for people to be that night, so [it was] a lot of pressure,” Turk said. “What was really great is that everybody just rallied together.”

The Department of Human Services, Pittsburgh Mercy and Red Cross all came together to formulate a plan.

It was about a week before anyone was allowed back into the building to collect their belongings.

“You can imagine that people who have been displaced from permanent housing and had come to the Commons were quite traumatized by having to lose that housing and then move someplace else,” Metropulos said.

Some stayed in the new shelter, but others moved on.

Coping during the emergency

The community came together to support the shelter throughout the displacement.

Steelers linebacker Alex Highsmith provided dinner, backpacks and clothing and various other organizations, such as Eat n’ Park, made donations.

“Pittsburgh is a city of neighborhoods. It seems like no matter what neighborhood you live in you have a connection,” Turk said.

At the North Side location, Second Avenue Commons was able to provide space for 92 bunks, hot meals and a place to shower.

Dr. Anita Leon-Jhong, the medical director of the UPMC Second Avenue Commons Health Center, said that while at the temporary location, the clinic still tried to support people wherever they were.

Throughout the past months, there were multiple satellite clinics set up throughout the city. This was because the Reedsdale location on the North Side was too small to provide for those who were not already seeking shelter there.

Despite the constant change in locations, people were still able to find the clinics.

To get the word out, the clinic created flyers for the different locations, and Leon-Jhong said that among those experiencing homelessness, word travels fast.

“We had some patients that came and saw us at all four locations,” Leon-Jhong said.

The reopening process

Upon reopening, the shelter had to take down all 92 bunks at Reedsdale Street, and reassembled them at Second Avenue Commons all in the same day, so people could be back in them that night.

It took just over four months for the shelter to reopen after first shutting down.

“That’s a really short period of time for a building that is 45,000 square feet,” Metropulos said.

Originally, it was predicted that the reopening process was going to take eight months.

“We wanted to get all the residents into the building before the cold weather started,” Metropulos said.

On Friday, Pittsburgh Mercy will reopen its Winter Overflow Shelter at Second Avenue Commons with capacity for up to 40 adults, from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. each night.

Sandra Mayer had been staying at the temporary location on Reedsdale Street, but likes the facilities at the reopened space.

“I get my own space, I get my own bed,” Mayer said. “Plus, I get to meet new residents.”

She said she likes the idea of the overflow space opening because it will help get more people off the streets.

Myrna Sims has been experiencing homelessness for the past two years. After staying with friends and family, she decided to come to the shelter that was on Reedsdale Street to get help with housing.

She said the temporary location in the North Side was bad.

“Everybody was in the gymnasium. Ninety bunk beds in the gym,” Sims said. “Everybody was all on top of each other and sharing a bathroom.”
Struggles within the shelter

Despite the multiple amenities offered within the shelter, some residents sought change.

Scott Kline has been staying at Second Avenue Commons since the reopening.

Kline said that although the shelter provides breakfast and dinner, a lot of the people residing there have to seek lunch elsewhere, such as at Divine Mercy Parish through The Red Door ministries. He said three meals should already be provided.

“So the people actually still sleeping outside can get that food,” Kline said. “They need it more.”

Turk said they have gotten a lot of feedback on this matter, so the shelter is attempting to boost their food offerings.

They can only provide lunches when they receive donations.

For groups, organizations, and businesses who’d like to donate lunches: Contact Brendan Copp, volunteer coordinator at Pittsburgh Mercy: Brendan.Copp@pittsburghmercy.org or 412-897-8822.

Why they do it

Through the trials and tribulations, all the members involved with the organization persisted to provide a safe space for those seeking shelter.

Going into the human services field, Turk knew it was going to be hard work, but that did not stop him.

“It’s heart-filling work. It makes you feel like you’re making a difference,” Turk said. “There’s never been a day I haven’t been impressed by the resiliency of the person served.”