With freezing temperatures coming as winter approaches, Allegheny County officials have announced their emergency plan for homeless residents. Mark Bertolet of the county’s Department of Human Services said a Code Blue Action Plan will be initiated when the National Weather Service forecasts the air temperature will fall below 26 degrees
Allegheny County’s Homeless Advisory Board is calling on Pittsburgh and the county to establish clear criteria for opening their joint extreme weather shelter. Board members said during a meeting Tuesday that they were upset there appeared to be no plan to immediately open the shelter, despite the recent frigid temperatures.
Questions remain about what housing options will be available to current residents as county council pursues possible long-term solutions to a growing homelessness crisis.