Opinion: Why Polish Hill should welcome a new homeless shelter to the neighborhood
Editor's note: As reported by Public Source, Pittsburgh's Zoning Board of Adjustment is set to hold a public hearing today, Nov. 12, on a proposal to turn a vacant building in Polish Hill into a homeless shelter. The Allegheny County Department of Human Services hopes to replace a winter shelter it has operated in the Perry South neighborhood for the past two years. The new shelter would operate year-round from 6 p.m. to 9 a.m. daily at 3567 Bigelow Blvd. Ahead of tonight's hearing, one Polish Hill resident explains his stance on the proposal.
By George Waksmunski
As a multigenerational resident of Polish Hill, I would like to express my support for the overflow shelter on Bigelow Boulevard. Across our country and in our city, we have a need to address homelessness. The history of Polish Hill is Polish Catholic immigrants. We found this patch of land and called it our own. We built an amazing church and grade school – Following the teachings of Jesus was drilled into us through our families. The foundation of Jesus’ message was his Sermon on the Mount, the Beatitudes: blessed are the peacemakers, house the homeless, feed the hungry, etc.
I would point out the homeless are our children. Maybe not by blood but by birth. They are our neighbors and family. As a Catholic (and I believe all faiths), I know that we must take care of the least of us. We should remember that, but by the grace of God go I. Let us remember that many homeless people are veterans. We can celebrate veterans with a meal but deny them a warm place to sleep on a deathly cold night.
The shelter is just the right thing to do. There is a need, and we have a solution. We should be proud to be a part of the solution. We cannot talk the talk by saying something should be done, or should have been done, before a mother and child freeze to death. We have to walk the walk and take care of our own.
I get that some have concerns, and others are just freaked out. There really is only one concern, and that is community safety. The homeless are not by and large a threatening community. They suffer in most cases from trauma and hopelessness. This is a temporary shelter and not permanent housing. The shelter is on a piece of land that our community does not use. Children do not play in the area. Sound is not an issue.
The Polish community is a caring community. As a lifelong labor leader, I know that a rising tide lifts all boats. We have to deal with the issues facing communities that have the least to push up standards for all.
As a Polish Hill resident, I support the shelter.
