Pittsburgh Mayor Ed Gainey signed a disaster emergency declaration Friday evening over Tuesday’s fire at the Second Avenue Commons homeless shelter.
The declaration taps the heads of the city’sEmergency Management, Planning and Permits, Licenses and Inspections departments to coordinate an emergency response.
According to a statement released by the City of Pittsburgh on X, formerly known as Twitter, the leaders are tasked with taking action to address the need for temporary shelter facilities and the “swift repair and reopening” of the shelter.
“Expediting the repair and reopening of the Second Avenue Commons is critical for the health and safety of some of our most vulnerable residents,” Gainey said in a statement.
“This order will ensure that we are able to move with the speed required to meet this moment in order to return this critical piece of our health and human services infrastructure to operation.”
Today, @MayorEdGainey signed a Declaration of Disaster Emergency over the fire and condemnation of the 2nd Avenue Commons Shelter. pic.twitter.com/XmLTB6IJBI
— City of Pittsburgh (@Pittsburgh) June 7, 2024
There were 175 people displaced by the fire at the shelter, and many are now being temporarily housed at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center.
Mayor’s spokesperson Olga George said the residents at the convention center will be there for at least one more week.
The plan is still to reopen the shelter, as the building is not being condemned, she noted.
“The declaration gives us an opportunity to fast-track permit work that needs to be done to get our vulnerable residents back into housing,” George said.
Gainey’s declaration will be in effect for seven days, George clarified.
The declaration was presented to City Council, along with corresponding legislation ratifying and extending the declaration for 180 days, or until Dec. Council’s standing committee will vote on Wednesday, and a final vote will take place the following Tuesday, she said.
Related:
• Fire at Pittsburgh homeless shelter displaces 175 people, injures 6
• County, nonprofits collaborate to serve those displaced by Downtown Pittsburgh shelter fire
