PITTSBURGH — Sitting in the middle of Pittsburgh’s Perry South neighborhood, the former McNaugher School has now been turned into a homeless shelter.
Neighbors said it came without warning.
“[I’m] very, very upset about the shelter being down the street from my house,” said a neighbor who didn’t want to be identified.
The shelter opened up on Maple Avenue several days ago.
Lucretia Nicopulos lives right across the street. She told Channel 11 that people looking for the shelter have been knocking on her door.
Additionally, Nicopulos said she’s seen busloads of homeless people getting dropped off. The Allegheny County Department of Human Services website is directing them to go to the Second Avenue Commons homeless shelter to be transported to the new one in Perry South.
“They have cars parked all up and down the street on the wrong side of the street,” Nicopulos said. “You can see this is a small street. People can’t drive up and down the street. It makes it real difficult, so right now, it is an annoyance for me.”
Some people don’t think their neighborhood is the right place to have a shelter. They said a lot of children catch the school bus there and worry about their safety.
Over the weekend, police said a registered sex offender who’s homeless followed a 93-year-old woman from Downtown Pittsburgh then beat her and raped her inside her Troy Hill home.
>>> Man accused of following 93-year-old woman home from Downtown Pittsburgh, raping her
“I have seven grandchildren and I’m not comfortable now that the gentleman has raped the 90-year-old, followed her and raped her,” the neighbor said. “I’m very, very nervous now.”
The shelter’s opening comes as city officials continue to tackle homelessness.
During a press conference Monday afternoon, Mayor Ed Gainey said 100 homeless people have been moved indoors so far. He said the goal is to eventually get them all into transitional or public housing.
“Thus far, we have made great strides,” Gainey said.
Protesters disagree. Chanting, “No housing. No peace,” outside the mayor’s house in the rain Monday evening, they demanded long-term housing or to leave the homeless encampments alone.
Channel 11 reached out to the county’s Department of Human Services to find out what the guidelines are for the homeless shelter on Maple Avenue and if a person would have to pass a background check. We are waiting to hear back.
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