Pittsburgh City Council working to remove homeless encampments

PITTSBURGH — Pittsburgh City Council members are working on a way to remove the homeless encampments popping up over the city.

“We want immediate action. We want to see people in homes. There’s a humane way to deal with homelessness,” said Pittsburgh City Council president Theresa Kail-Smith.

Homeless camps are popping up all over the Northside.

You’ll see them on the Riverfront Trail to Millvale.

Another makeshift tent city popped up underneath the Andy Warhol Bridge.

Kail-Smith says this shouldn’t be allowed.

“Whatever we’re doing is not working. So, we have to do something different. And I think allowing people to stay on the street in freezing temperatures in all inclement weather is inhumane,” said Kail-Smith.

She also tells Channel 11 that she’s received reports from people saying they feel unsafe walking or biking on these trails at night. And part of the fix to this problem could be tiny homes on City property.

“We are going to work on legislation on some tiny homes and we’re going to introduce it next week, which by the way, PA is the number one producer of tiny homes.”

Kail-Smith says they hope to focus on getting tiny homes for homeless veterans first and then move on to other groups.

We’re told the legislation is still being written and could be up for a vote soon.

We reached out to Mayor Ed Gainey’s office and haven’t heard back.

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