Most tents removed from homeless encampment along Pittsburgh's Eliza Furnace Trail

PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- The largest homeless encampment in Pittsburgh, located along the Eliza Furnace Trail, has seen most of its tents removed. This encampment, once home to around 40 tents next to the river trail near Downtown, had been a source of concern for cyclists, runners, and pedestrians.

Recently, however, a collaborative effort between homeless advocates, outreach workers, and city and county officials successfully facilitated the relocation of those living in the encampment to shelters and permanent housing. This initiative marked a significant shift in approach, allowing for a smoother transition without the need for the city to issue eviction notices.

Erin Dalton, the county's director of Human Services, emphasized the importance of teamwork in this process. "We said we were going to do it together," she noted, describing the cooperative nature of the effort, which included staff from the mayor's office and advocacy groups. This unified approach allowed for effective communication and assistance, minimizing the distress often associated with such relocations.

The homeless advocates, who previously expressed frustration with the city through protests, found a more constructive pathway in this collaborative model. Their efforts, combined with the city's willingness to adapt, resulted in a more humane treatment of the encampment's residents.

As a result of these developments, city Public Works crews are set to conduct a cleanup of the area in the coming days, ensuring the trail is restored for public use while taking steps to address the underlying issues of homelessness in the region.