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Pittsburgh City Council

City closes North Side space that provided drop-in support for unhoused residents.

Written by Amy Whipple

An expired lease is uprooting the Reaching Out on the Streets (ROOTS) drop-in location on the North Side.

ROOTS is offered through the Office of Community Health and Safety and provides resources to unhoused people primarily through street outreach. 

The drop-in location, which permanently closed Oct. 2 after the city did not renew the lease, offered services such as connection to housing, paperwork assistance and county assistance. It also served as a mailing address for time-sensitive paperwork.

Seven people spoke during the Sept. 30 committee meeting, urging council to preserve a building for the program.

Lyndsey Sickler, Executive Director at Proud Haven, said, “We have, on East Ohio Street, created this continuum of services.” They said Proud Haven, Community Continuum and ROOTS routinely refer clients to each other for appropriate resources.

Council’s ability to intervene, however, is limited.

Council Member Khari Mosley of Point Breeze said during the June 17 committee meeting that state statute restricts what the city can provide. Social services are almost exclusively under the purview of the county’s Department of Human Services. 

Mayor Corey O’Connor’s preliminary budget for 2027 — submitted to council on Sept. 30 — includes expanded funding for ROOTS. The proposed line items only contain money for personnel, not rent. 

Council cannot independently seek a new building lease for the drop-in program. It is, however, responsible for authorizing one if presented by the administration.

Connections to this story

Elected officials:
Khari Mosley
Governments:
Pittsburgh City Council
Public meetings:
City Council · September 29, 2026

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