►
Description
The City of Pittsburgh's Office of Equity staff discussed concerns for our vulnerable populations around COVID-19, and how equity remains a top priority during and after the pandemic for Pittsburgh.
A
A
Today
we're
going
to
talk
about
a
number
of
areas
within
city
government
and
also
within
our
community
in
general,
and
we
are
going
to
take
the
time
to
really
unpack
this,
because
we're
looking
at
parts
of
city
government
that
perhaps
hadn't
existed
before
and
and
how
the
intersections
really
play
in
before
we
get
started,
I'd
like
to
take
the
time
to
introduce
everyone
on
the
call
and
go
from
there.
We've
got
some
great
folks
from
the
team
here
with
us
today
and
we'll
start
with
Mayor
Bill,
Peduto,
Josiah
and
Laura
drag-outs
key.
C
Hey
good
afternoon,
everyone
she
majestic
Lane
chief
equity
officer,
deputy
just
after
Mayor
Peduto
thank.
A
D
A
D
D
A
You
for
that
mayor,
so
this
is
something
folks
and
Pittsburgh
will
be
familiar
with,
that
you've
been
focused
on
and
paying
attention
to
since
your
days
in
City
Council.
Now
that
your
mayor
and
given
the
idea
given
the
shock
that
you
mentioned,
that's
happening
with
coab
in
nineteen.
What
are
your
principal
concerns
as
it
relates
to
folks
that
might
be
experiencing
homelessness
or
folks
that
might
be
experiencing
addiction,
so.
D
I'll,
let
Laura
answer
more
specifically
because
she's
literally
on
the
streets
working
and
talking
with
them
might
my
involvement
with
in
Pittsburgh's
homeless.
Community
goes
back
before
I
ever
ran
for
office,
or
was
a
council
member
and
work
that
I
did
with
a
number
of
shelters
that
then
led
to
a
program
that
we
created
when
I
was
a
staff
member
for
City,
Councilman,
Dan
Cohen,
and
my
involvement
continues
through
my
days
as
a
mayor
with
within
our
homeless
community
I.
D
Looking
about
one
community,
what's
absolutely
essential,
is
that
there
are
protocols
that
are
being
followed
on
a
national
basis
in
which
we
need
to
be
able
to
follow
as
well.
So,
if
we're
looking
at
camps
in
many
cases,
people
may
be
safer
with
in
that
camp,
then,
if
we
were
to
take
them
out
of
it,
but
they
need
a
place
to
wash
their
hands,
they
need
a
clean
place
to
use
for
a
bathroom.
They
need
to
make
sure
that
they're
getting
food
and
there
get
there
they're
getting
checked
on
and
once
we're
able
to
identify.
D
Somebody
who
may
be
infected
we
have
now
set
up
with
the
County
EMS
will
take
them
to
a
hotel
and
we're
able
to
provide
a
quarantine,
safe
area
for
them.
But
again
we
have
to
look
at
the
national
standards
because
you
don't
want
to
place
others
who
may
be
at
risk,
but
may
also
be
diabetic
or
have
high
blood
pressure
or
other
types
of
risks.
That
would
make
them
even
more
prone.
Should
they
get
in
contact
with
the
virus
in
a
area
inside
of
a
hotel.
D
A
You
you
know
it's
fascinating,
because
so
much
of
the
conversation
around
public
health
can
remain.
You
know
that
this
zoomed-out
loved
one.
Yet
you
hear
this
really
practical
blend
here,
where
you're
talking
down
to
the
individual
level?
How
are
you
providing
services?
How
are
you
taking
into
account
other
factors
that
might
be
at
play?
What
resources
are
there
to
be
brought
to
bear?
And
then
what
does
the
game
plan
look
like
for
that?
A
Individual,
which
I
think
is
the
uniquely
interesting
thing
about
city
government
and
about
our
setup
here
in
Pittsburgh
that
we
have
the
chance
to
do
that?
It
occurs
to
be
that
and
other
larger
municipalities
might
be
tougher
to
get
down.
You
know
to
that
level.
Chief
Lane
I'd
like
to
bring
you
in
sir.
Oh.
D
I
just
want
to
add
this,
and
Laura
will
be
able
to
speak
to
it.
People
don't
realize
was
that
are
on
the
front
lines
of
working
with
people
who
are
living
on
our
streets,
no,
those
souls
by
their
name.
They
know
their
circumstances
that
have
left
them
on
the
Esper
tree.
They
know
where
they
came
from
and
why
they
are
on
the
street.
D
We
are
so
blessed
in
this
community
to
have
a
safety-net
service
that
actually
does
treat
the
individual
as
an
individual
and,
in
my
little
bit
of
participation
on
that,
I
have
had
that
opportunity
to
see
people's
lives
change
firsthand
by
the
individual
attention.
We're
able
to
give
people
who
are
suffering
from
addiction,
people
who
are
suffering
from
mental
illness.
A
C
You
I'll
just
say:
I,
think
you
know,
the
role
of
the
office
of
equity
is
really
to
just
to
look
at
applying
an
equity
lens
to
what
we
do
inside
of
our
city.
Equity
is
not
a
luxury,
it's
a
priority.
It
has
to
happen
and
I.
Think
ovid,
as
we
talked
about
before,
has
really
exposed
fault
lines
and
crack
lines
in
our
society
that
people
may
not
have
seen
the
tenuous
like
the
tenuous
livelihood,
continuous
experiences
that
people
have
been
having
now.
C
We
know
the
certain
communities
have
been
having
those
prior,
so
they've
been
dealing
with
various
stressors
before,
but
when
we
all
had
to
deal
with
a
shock
as
if
we're
dealing
with
a
global
pandemic.
Now
we
see
the
stresses
that
are
coming
from
it
and
we
can
see
vulnerable
communities,
vulnerable
people
right
and
they're,
not
vulnerable
was
because
of
themselves
or
individual
decisions,
they're
usually
vulnerable
because
of
a
system,
if
only
because
of
a
system
that
has
not
served
them
well
or
system
that
has
failed
them.
C
So
really
it's
taking
a
look
at
as
a
city
and
acknowledging
that
you
know,
as
the
mayor
often
says,
if
it's
not
for
all
of
us,
it's
not
for
any
of
us
and
what
I
mean
by
that
is
the
health,
safety
and
welfare
of
all
citizens.
So
we
have
to
look
at
the
health,
safety
and
welfare
of
every
citizen
in
the
city
as
important,
and
sometimes
that
includes
they'd
always
includes
people
who
are
not
always
seen,
and
those
are
the
people
sometimes
that
are
stepped
over
some
time.
C
Those
are
the
people
who
are
right
next
to
you,
who
are
in
a
particular
community
in
that
community
is
not
because
they're
different.
That
community
is
folks
who
share
similar
challenges
but
they're
all
part
of
our
community,
but
the
mayor
has
identified
those
populations.
If
you
will
that's
critical
to
be
able
to
make
sure
that
the
entire
city
is
rising.
Not
just
some
of
us
thank.
A
You
so
you
mentioned
this
idea
that
there
are
existing
inequities
and
some
of
those
being
structural
in
nature
and
the
koban
19
is
exacerbating,
and
perhaps
for
a
lot
of
people
clarifying
or
underscoring
those
realities
when
it
comes
to
the
office
of
equity
in
just
this
conversation
around
equity.
What
is
it
important
to
keep
in
mind
as
it
relates
to
poverty
that
folks
might
not
consider
generally
so.
C
I
think
number
one
that
it
is
often
framed
in
our
society
that
poverty
is
a
host
of
individual
decisions.
It's
a
result
both
of
individual
decisions
that
someone
made
versus
what
someone
else
made
and
all
the
research
and
everything
that's
been
coming
out
for
years
now
for
decades
shows
that
poverty
is
also
about
a
system.
It's
about
a
system
that
privileges
some
over
others.
C
So
this
is
just
a
structure
of
looking
at
what
is
the
kind
of
social
safety
net
to
get
everyone
a
quality
of
life
so
that
they
can
acknowledge
who
they
are
and
find
their
space
to
be
the
best
of
this,
and
then
they
can
be.
And
what
is
society's
responsibility?
And
you
know,
as
the
mayor
said,
cities
traditionally
haven't
gotten
into
this.
This
has
been
the
federal
government.
This
has
been
other
people,
sometimes
even
for
lambda,
B
or
charity,
but
I
think
this
is
an
evolving
space.
C
Where
cities
acknowledge
that,
if
you
want
everyone
to
be
okay,
you
have
to
at
least
try
to
serve
in
a
cross-sectoral
manner.
You
have
to
serve
in
a
manner
that
goes
across
silos.
You
have
to
serve
in
a
manner
that
works,
to
convene
the
resources
and
combine
the
activities
in
order
to
create
the
outcomes
that
is
best
for
everyone.
So.
A
You
know
it's
interesting.
You
mentioned
the
idea
of
serving
everyone,
because
I
think
it
would
be
a
mistake
or
perhaps
an
oversimplification
to
equate
even
rhetorically.
In
our
conversation,
the
idea
of
homelessness
and
poverty,
because
people
can
be
experiencing
homelessness
that
aren't
necessarily
poor
and
I.
Remember
when
I
worked
at
the
home
of
Children's
Village,
you
could
be
talking
about
young
people
that
are
just
you
know
between
places
to
live
that,
maybe
just
don't
have
an
address
or
living
with
friends.
A
C
I
think
it's
a
it's
a
lens
change.
It's
a
lens
change
to
understand
that
people
without
an
address
or
just
like
they're
there,
people
without
an
address
but
they're
people.
First
often
will
say:
that's
a
homeless
person
burger.
That's
a
person
without
an
address
at
this
point,
because
it's
a
phase
you
can
be
going
through
versus
a
stigma
right
so
one.
How
do
we
get
past
the
stigmas?
How
do
we
understand
the
public
responsibility
of
caring
for
each
other?
C
Think
of
it
is
again
brought
out
the
idea
of
what
it
is:
the
individuals
responsibility
to
the
collective.
What
are
our
responsibilities
to
keep
people
safe?
What
are
our
responsibilities
are:
keep
people
okay!
Well,
just
like
we
about
this
new
normal.
We
have
to
carry
the
idea.
They
were
all
responsible
for
each
other
into
our
recovery
right
and
act,
and
that
could
mean
book
2
or
dealing
with
anxiety
and
in
a
mental
health
challenges,
mental
health
opportunities.
C
That
could
mean
folks
tour
without
an
address
that
can
mean
folks
that
may
have
seen
the
confluence
of
factors
that
affected
them
and
impacted
them,
I'm,
sort
of
dealing
with
addiction
challenges,
and
whatever
have
you
so
you
know
it's
about.
How
do
we
shift
our
lens
and
how
does
the
city
lead
by
example,
we're
trying
to
shift
its
lens
to
acknowledge
that
you
do?
You
know
that,
while
you're
dealing
with
you
know
issues
like
homelessness
and
opioids,
you
also
have
Belinda
you
gender
on
it.
You
also
have
a
Linda
the
class
on
it.
C
You
also
have
a
lens
of
race
on
it
right.
We
have.
You
also
have
a
lens
of
sexuality
and
Orient
of
orientationally
right.
So
these
are
all
things
that
are
also
lenses
upon
that
and
I
really
tip
my
head
to
to
lower
for
also
seeing
those
confluences
to
to
not
just
acknowledge
it.
Addiction
in
it's
just
addiction
or
homelessness
is
just
homelessness.
C
A
Gonna
turn
to
Laura
and
hear
in
a
moment,
but
one
last
question
for
you:
majestic
you've
been
working
with
the
Housing
Opportunity
Fund
now
for
a
while
and
I
wondered
if
you
could
speak
to
two
mechanisms
or
resources
that
are
in
place
or
could
be
in
place
in
the
future
of
the
bill
toward
this
new
normal
that
can
help
address.
Some
of
these
concerns
reduce
harm
and
look
people
in
a
better
position,
help
them
get
to
a
better
position.
Yeah.
C
We
know
that
if
people
are
four
hundred
dollars,
they
get
kicked
out
did
that
four
hundred
dollars
now
turns
in
a
couple
thousand
dollars
they
have
to
get
for
their
next
apartment.
So
even
a
little
bit
of
help
in
the
short
term
can
stop
someone
from
becoming
the
victim
which
we
know
that
eviction
that
homelessness
without
being
without
an
address
now
changes
what
goes
on
emotionally.
It
changes
what
goes
on
educationally.
It
changed.
C
What
going
on
with
the
ability
to
work,
so
we've
been
doing
that,
but
also
beyond
that,
we
got
identified
and
we've
been
thinking
that
small
interventions
can
have
a
big
impact.
So
we've
been
working
with
our
Commission
on
Human,
Relations
and
office
and
within
our
office,
and
also
with
you
know,
kind
of
external
stakeholders
or
really
thinking
about.
Where
is
a
place
that
an
appropriate
intervention
could
be,
let's
say,
for
a
mediator
to
be
able
to
come
in
and
think
about.
How
can
you
partner
and
work
with,
maybe
a
large
landowner?
C
How
can
you
work
with
a
judge
or
magistrate?
You
know
where?
Where
can
we
find
places
to
try
to
mediate,
to
keep
people
safe
right
as
much
as
we're
doing?
Working
and
Laura
will
talk
about
a
lot
of
it
they're
trying
to
do
work
to
create
the
the
the
high
quality
you
know,
top
of
line,
shelters
and
the
opportunities
for
living
for
folks
who
are
previewed,
don't
have
an
address.
C
You
know
the
the
the
education
gaps
that
often
come
from
young
people
being
in
stressful
traumatic
situations,
so
this
is
really
about
keeping
a
city
that
works
for
everyone
and
so
you'll,
see
in
the
next
couple
of
weeks
and
months,
really
an
interesting
pilot
program.
We
want
to
expand
to
really
look
at
eviction
innovation.
It's
an
idea.
That's
been
taken
has
taken
hold
across
the
country.
C
Our
city,
along
with
National
League
of
Cities,
has
been
being
folks
from
all
across
the
country
in
a
cohort
to
really
look
at
what
is
the
Vixen
innovation,
and
so
how
do
you
work
on
one
level
to
keep
people
being
evicted
and,
on
the
other
hand,
how
do
you
get
folks
who
may
be
experiencing
homelessness
at
this
time?
The
opportunities
and
the
resources
they
need
to
stabilize
themselves?
C
A
You
chief
Layne
Laurel,
it's
let's
turn
to
you,
so
you
are
someone
that
I
have
learned
so
much
from
since
joining
the
mayor's
office.
I
always
enjoy
opportunities
to
talk
with
you
about
your
work
when
I
think
about
it.
Two
terms
come
to
mind
and
we've
talked
about
this
before,
and
those
are
access
and
accommodations
and
I.
Just
wonder
how
you
would,
with
those
terms
in
mind,
explain
to
those
that
may
be
watching
what
your
role
is
and
what
you
do.
Yes,.
B
I
think
you
mayor
and
chief
Blaine,
also
Heather
and
Nikolas.
Thank
you
so
much
for
accommodating
us
today
as
well
and
so
I've
been
working
in
the
mayor's
office
since
2017
and
I
think
the
most
important
thing
that
I've
learned
from
the
mayor
is
that
you
learn
best
by
listening
by
listening
to
our
communities
by
finding
a
way
to
accommodate
their
needs
and
understand
their
narratives
for
some
people,
it's
more
difficult
to
have
that
access
than
others.
B
If
you're
a
person
experiencing
homelessness
and
I
know
that
this
is
something
that
we
hear
from
our
community
members
all
the
time.
How
are
they?
How
are
you
able
to
advocate
for
yourself?
How
are
you
able
to
be
accommodated
in
the
decisions
that
will
ultimately
affect
you,
and
the
same
thing
is
true,
for
you
know
a
person
living
with
a
disability.
B
B
So
I
have
the
opportunity
to
work
with
a
really
wide
array
of
people:
people
who
use
drugs,
people
who
are
displaced
in
precarious
situations
experiencing
homelessness
individuals
who
have
served
our
country
and
come
back
and
have
accommodations
that
need
to
be
made
for
people
to
either
understand
their
experience
on
a
professional
level
or
maybe
was
thinking
more
from
a
mental
health
level
or
trauma
level.
So
how
are
we
accommodating
that
our
partners
in
the
age-friendly
community?
How
are
we
making
sure
our
seniors
are?
Are
integrated
in
intergenerational
ways
into
our
into
our
lives?
B
A
You
so
when
I
hear
you
describe
it
in
that
way,
what
comes
to
mind
to
me
are
intersections
the
intersections
of
the
various
communities
and
what
they
may
be
facing
and
experiencing.
Could
you
speak
a
little
bit
to
that
and
and
if
we're
trying
to
make
accommodations
is
it?
Is
it
useful
to
think
about
these
services
as
just
a
privilege
that
we're
trying
to
engage
people
with
or
is
there
another
way
to
think
about
it?
That's.
B
A
those
are
really
important
questions.
I
might
start
with
the
latter
question,
which
is
privileged
right.
I.
Think
that,
through
this
crisis,
we
have
probably
become
more
acutely
aware
of
the
privilege
of
health,
the
privilege
of
shelter,
the
privilege
of
well
being
and
I
think
we
all
agreed
that
those
shouldn't
be
privileges.
A
person
should
not
suffer
from
respiratory
virus
that
could
kill
them
because
they
don't
have
access
to
health
and
well-being
services.
Likewise,
you
know
a
person
sheltering
outside.
B
We
want
them
to
be
accommodated
in
their
own
home
in
a
safe
place,
and
you
know
there's
there's
a
this
recognition
that
we
have
systems
in
place
that
make
these
resources
make
these
rights
more
of
a
privilege
and
I.
Think,
maybe
more
so
through
this
crisis
than
others
we're
recognizing,
they
can't
be
privileges
or
we
will
continue
to
have
inequity
and
and
to
your
other
point,
intersectionality
and
I
think
that
equity
provides
that
lens
that
that
that
fabric
or
that
tapestry,
but
I,
think
there's
also
conflation
right,
I
think
there's
a
lot
of
stereotyping.
B
If
a
person
is
experiencing
homelessness,
we
assume
they
have
problematic
substance
use.
We
assume
they
have
untreated
mental
illness
and
there's
a
whole
host
of
reasons
why
a
person
might
experience
homelessness,
there's
a
whole
host
of
reasons
why
a
person
might
use
substances
in
various
ways,
not
always
problematically.
You
know
it's
a
sometimes
a
very
unpopular
thought
that
substances
can
be
really
effective
in
helping
people
to
cope
with
the
experiences
that
they
have
in
life.
B
We
want
to
recognize
the
individuality
in
our
communities
and
we
want
to
recognize
that
this
is
something
you
know
that
the
mayor-
and
you
just
saw
were
saying
from
the
very
beginning
that
every
person
is
a
person
and
we
have
this
privilege
to
try
to
learn
from
each
and
every
one
that
we
interact
with,
especially
even
our
direct
service
providers.
I
had
an
opportunity
to
speak
with
our
assistant,
deputy
chief
and
the
office
of
community
services
at
DHS,
who
happens
to
be
a
mayor's
office.
Alumni
Cynthia
shields,
and
it
was
really
important.
B
She
reminded
me
that
we
think
a
lot
about
essential
workers
and
how
we're
recognizing
them
during
this
crisis
and
how
maybe
we
didn't
before,
but
I,
think
the
important
thing
is
when
we
want
experts,
we
need
to
go
to
them.
As
the
mayor
said,
we
can
go
and
speak
to.
You
know
the
founder
of
street
medicine
in
our
community
and
understanding
exactly
in
his
team's
and
understand
exactly
what
people
are
experiencing.
We
can
go
to
the
people
and
understand
it,
so
they
inform
the
decisions
we
make
so
that
those
decisions
are
efficient
and
also
effective.
B
So
I
think
you
know
I
think
that
what
Cynthia
shared
was
if
we're
gonna
have
free
coffee,
let's
also
think
about
our
our
shelter
providers
and
our
direct
service
workers
and
behavioral
health
communities
and
substance,
use
services,
communities
and
harm
reduction
communities
as
well,
but
I
think
that
you
know
again,
as
we
think
about
intersectionality
there's.
Also
this
real
differentiation
of
the
individual.
B
A
Mention
the
individual
level
you're
one
of
the
people
that
the
mayor
referenced
at
you
know
not
a
person
by
person
or
a
name
basis
knows
many
of
the
folks
that
were
that,
we're
kind
of
referring
to,
and
this
in
this
framing
I
wanted
to
take
advantage
of
having
you
on
the
call.
Let's
just
jump
right
into
it.
What
are
the
greatest
challenges
for
people
who
are
in
precarious
situations
right
now
and
given
that
to
the
mayor's
point,
there's
a
shock
to
the
system?
A
B
A
that's
a
great
great
question,
so
I
think
you
know
maybe
I'll
start
with
substance.
Use
I
know
that
the
mayor
spoke
that
I
for
many
years
worked
directly
with
prevention,
point
Pittsburgh
and
prevention
point:
Pittsburgh
is
a
syringe
service
program
and
harm
reduction
program.
That's
been
operating
within
the
city
for
25
years,
and
notably
it
has
been
here.
B
You
know,
I
mean
literally
handing
out
sterile
supplies
for
25
years
with
no
incident
and
a
great
deal
of
harm
reduction
and
prevention
in
the
community,
which
we
all
know
is
the
more
effective
way
as
prevention
in
the
time
that
I
spent
with
the
people
using
those
services.
The
one
thing
I
that
became
very
clear
to
me
and
certainly
was
clear
to
the
people
who
have
done
this
for
a
long
time
is
that
to
Majestic
achieve
lanes
points.
These
are
people,
you
know
they're,
not
addicts,
they're,
not
drug
users.
B
B
So
you
know
in
looking
at
those
individual
experiences
we
we
learn
so
much
and
then,
in
speaking
with
our
providers
in
our
direct
service
providers,
especially
the
people
who
are
you
know
our
harm
reduction
specialists,
our
social
workers,
our
case
managers,
our
outreach
workers,
our
community
health
workers
and
those
are
also
the
people
that
can
give
us
some
of
the
greatest
insights
about
the
ways
in
which
service
can
be
improved.
But,
of
course
it's.
B
You
know
it's
difficult
to
elegant
elevate
those
voices
because
they're
busy,
right,
they're,
really
busy
and
so
I
think
that
what
we
have
demonstrated
to
ourselves
is
that
we
can
change
things
I
mean
even
during
this
crisis.
We're
seeing
rapid
rapid
response
and
change,
which
is
incredible.
I
mean
we're
seeing
new
ways
that
our
partners,
who
are
working
with
the
Health
Department,
are
making
sure
that
naloxone,
which
is
the
overdose
antidote,
is
available
to
people
we're
seeing
our
EMS
teams
using
telehealth
I
know.
B
The
mayor
spoke
about
that
last
week,
using
naloxone
leave-behind
to
make
sure
everybody
can
have
access
to
the
life-saving
medication.
We
are
seeing
our
substance
use
treatment
providers
making
take-homes
available,
which
is
something
that
people
have
feared
for
so
long
because
of
the
stigma
around
medication.
That's
used
for
recovery
and
support,
but
you
know
what
we
can
do
it.
We
just
proved
it
to
ourselves.
B
So
I
think
that
the
the
important
thing
here
is
to
recognize
that
our
experts,
who
have
been
telling
us
that
some
things
that
feel
uncomfortable
but
that
we
know
work,
we
can
do
those
things.
We
can
recognize
agency,
we
can
recognize
autonomy
and
we
can
promote
the
safety
of
individuals
and
by
doing
that,
well,
actually,
I
think
all
become
even
more
resilient
and
will
have
a
more
equitable
approach
to
people.
B
That's
recognizing
that
a
person
has
a
reason
why
they
use
drugs
and
that
that
reason
is
complex
and
that
they
may
be
an
individual
who
is
in
need
of
resources,
but
certainly
that
incarcerated
that
individual
is
not
going
to
change
the
outcome
for
them
and
so
yeah,
so
I
think
it's
I
think
it's
about
recognizing
that
we've
under
duress
proven
that
we
can
do
to
make
these
great
changes,
and
why
not
do
it?
As
the
mayor
said,
as
a
preventive
mechanism,
is
this
chief
Lane
said,
rather
than
waiting
for
the
harm
to
befall
people?
Yeah.
D
D
So
is
we're
seeing
the
economy-
and
this
is
well
before
kovin
19:00
shifting
in
areas
like
Westmoreland,
County,
Butler,
County,
Beaver,
County,
Washington,
County,
their
areas
of
providing
services
are
being
stressed
in
their
residents
are
coming
here
in
order
to
get
help,
and
so
you'll
see
more
people
on
the
streets
of
Pittsburgh
and
then
the
other
reaction
is.
They
should
all
be
arrested,
just
arrest
them
they're
loitering
number
one.
D
They
have
a
constitutional
right
to
not
have
a
home,
that's
not
a
crime,
it's
not
part
of
the
criminal
code,
the
you
cannot
and
have
to
have
a
home.
There
are
many
people
that
don't
have
a
home
and
we
don't
just
round
them
up
with
police
or
Public
Works.
In
fact,
we
did
that
for
decades.
We
did
that
in
that
second
point,
they'll
get
the
help
they
need
in
jail
has
proven
to
be
a
false
promise
for
decades.
D
Since
we
closed
down
mental
health
institutions
in
the
1980s
and
the
1990s,
our
number
one
institution
for
treating
people
with
mental
health
is
our
Jail
and
we
have
to
do
better
than
that
and
here's
the
thing.
We
have
the
capacity
with
nonprofit
organizations
to
let
that
person
be
somewhere
else
where
they
will
get
the
actual
help
they
need
and
not
just
put
them
under
the
rug
or
sweep
them
away
and
say
the
jails
have
the
programs
that
will
actually
help
that
hasn't
worked
for
decades
and
that's
not
an
indication
of
anyone
jail.
A
It's
such
an
important
point
mayor,
the
the
historical
context,
and
what
strikes
me
is
the
contrast
in
philosophy
on
those
kinds
of
interventions
to
your
point
and
what
Laura
is
describing,
whether
it's
the
work
of
prevention,
point
or
others
in
our
nonprofit
community
Laura,
just
in
terms
of
level
setting
for
folks
that
may
not
be
as
fluent
in
the
space.
What
exactly
is
harm
reduction
and
and
how
does
it
inform
why
you
might
have
something
like
a
syringe
service
that
that
might
be
startling
to
people
who
that
haven't
considered?
That
idea
before
it's.
B
So
if
you
are
going
to
go
out,
wear
a
mask
wash
your
hands,
you
reduce
the
potential
harm
to
yourself
and
others.
I'm,
sorry
20
seconds,
please
happy
birthday
twice,
and
so
there
are
really
broad
applications
for
harm
reduction.
When
we
start
talking
about
things
like
substance
use,
we
recognize
that
even
in
a
pre
kovat
era,
there
were
concerns
about
blood
borne
infection,
transmission,
so
hepatitis,
C,
transmission
or
HIV
transmission.
We
think
about
having
abscesses
or
endocarditis,
which
is
a
heart
valve
infection,
all
of
the
things
that
can
occur.
B
If
we
don't
have
sterile
supplies,
I,
don't
know,
I,
don't
think
anybody
should
be
subject
to
harm
because
their
use,
you
know,
involves
a
needle
and
certainly
I
think
if
you're
a
person
who
doesn't
think
about
it.
That
way,
but
it
looks
at
the
cost-
harm
reduction
is
far
far
more
cost-effective,
you're
preventing
all
of
the
associated
medical
treatment
and
care
for
a
person
and
instead
can
have
a
real
conversation
with
them
meet
them
where
they
are,
which
is
an
often
used
phrase
and
support
them.
B
So
you
know
I
think
we
recognize
that
just
because
someone
says
you
need
to
change,
doesn't
need
mean
you
need
to
change.
I,
think
I,
keep
telling
myself
I'm
gonna
get
up
every
morning
and
go
for
a
five-mile,
walk
and
I.
Haven't
done
that
and
I.
Don't
know
that
someone
yelling
louder
at
me
to
do
that.
Would
change
me
I,
don't
think
that's
how
human
behavior
is
is
playing
out.
So
what
we
do
is
we
meet
people
where
they
are
and
we
recognize
that
we
promote
their
safety.
B
B
I
think
I'm
interested
in
mutual
aid
meetings,
hey
whatever
a
person
decides
we're
just
promoting
movement
toward
health
and
well-being
and
so
I
think
in
the
Cova
era,
we're
now
thinking
about
sharing
cigarettes,
sharing
any
other
smoking
or
snorting
materials,
which
is
not
something
we've
thought
of
in
the
past
right
and
probably
there's
really
significant
conversations
to
be
had,
even
in
the
inequities
of
how
we've
approached
substance
use.
I
know,
Chief,
Layne
and
I
have
talked
about
this
at
length,
as
we
saw
the
demographics
of
substance
use
change
over
the
last
15
years.
B
B
You
know
for
many
organizations,
not
prevention
point
for
many
organizations
to
think
about
safe
snorting
and
safe
smoking
and
and
I
think
you
know
we
have
these
kind
of
deeper
level
conversations
about
how
we
keep
someone
healthy
and
safe,
to
support
them
and
being
healthy
and
safe
and
recognize
that
our
definition
of
healthy
and
safe
doesn't
have
to
match
theirs.
So
harm
reduction
has
very,
very
broad
impact
and
implications.
I.
Think
in
this
crisis
and
beyond
perhaps.
A
Another
conversation
to
do
a
deeper
dive.
You
know
on
that
and
evidence-based
best
practices
that
have
been
employed
or
utilized
by
organizations.
Chief
Lena
I,
wonder
when
you
hear
this
conversation
around
harm
reduction
in
the
philosophy
of
meeting
people
where
they're
at
is,
is
it
possible
and
appropriate
for
for
government
for
city
government
to
engage
in
that
way,
as
especially
through
this
lens
of
equity
and
I
think
you're,
muted?
So
there
we
are.
C
Yeah
I
think
it's
a
it's
the
changing
landscape
of
cities
that
you
can't
leave
an
issue
to
someone
else
and
for
years,
whether
it
was
mutual
aid
of
philanthropy
or
somebody
else
was
supposed
to
solve.
A
problem
and
cities
were
only
supposed
to
be
concerned
with
us
with
certain
amount
of
things,
and
we
just
see
that
that
is
not
how
high-performing
cities
function.
I
think
Ovadia
has
brought
to
bear.
You
know
ideas
around
being
considerate,
compassionate
right,
equitable.
We
talk
we're
talking
about
all
these
kind
of
things
that
you
didn't.
C
Fundamentally,
that's
not
how
you
define
cities
in
city's
role
in
those
kind
of
things,
so
I
think
we're
opening
up
to
acknowledge
that
around
harm-reduction
that
around
a
lot
of
these
challenges
that
we
have
to
start,
cities
have
to
start
being
partners
with
those
who
are
also
doing
them:
health
departments,
because
health
departments
often
again
understand
public
health
and
the
role
human
services.
So
cities
are
a
part
of
it,
but
cities
have
to
have
a
lens
to
not
be
siloed.
Cities
have
to
have
a
lens
to
be
cross-sectoral.
C
A
lot
of
the
great
work
that
laura
and
other
members
of
our
team
do
is
really
cross-sectoral,
mean
it
cuts
across
me,
and
we
may
be
having
conversation
with
street
medicine
groups
who
may
be
having
conversations
with
the
Redevelopment
Authority
may
be
having
conversations
with
the
Department
of
Human
Services.
Why?
Because
we
acknowledged
that,
in
order
to
engage
these,
what
they
call
Harvard
wicked
problems
or
just
challenging
multi-generational
problems,
you
can't
just
solve
them
in
a
silo
and
no
city
can,
in
a
sense
try
to
wall
itself
off
towards
issue.
C
You
can't
wall
yourself
off
to
the
issue
of
people
without
addresses
can't
wall
yourself
off
to
the
issue
with
people
who
are
having
mental
health
challenges.
You
can't
really
emotional
challenges,
can't
wall
all
yourself
off
to
people
who
are
dealing
with
addiction,
and
we
know
to
to
Laura's
point
that
in
the
past
we
did
wall
ourselves
off.
C
We
did
other
people
when
it
came
to
their
challenges
and
we
other
people
who
were
dealing
with
substance
abuse
just
and
we
criminalized
it
and
we
criminalize
it
according
to
race
and
gender
in
neighborhood,
and
we
see
the
costs
that
cities
across
America
are
still
paying
because
of
that
decision.
Right.
So
to
me,
the
the
decision
that
we've
made
to
move
involve
past.
That
is
not.
C
It
is
the
moral
choice,
but
it
is
actually
the
intelligent
choice
for
a
city
and
a
mayor
to
make
right
to
make
sure
we
evolve
past,
criminalizing
challenges
and
into
to
Laura's
point.
We
have
to
continue
to
be
thoughtful
around
that,
because
if
someone
takes
a
different
drug
or
different
substance,
but
how
do
we
make
sure
we
show
them
the
same
concern?
So
we
can't
say:
okay,
so
one
one
substance
we
have.
C
We
have
a
lot
of
love
and
appreciation
for,
but
this
other
substance
know
that
so
that's
a
bridge
too
far
right
so
that
that
is
the
lens
of
equity
in
the
lens
of
class
and
the
lens
of
gender.
We
can't
make
one
thing:
okay,
but
if
another
gender
does
something:
that's
not.
Okay
or
focus
on
themselves
in
situations,
so
that's
how
we
really
have
to
work
together
and
I
always
lift
up
and
be
people
centered,
while
acknowledging
we
can't
solve
it
all.
A
D
I'll
start
and
I'll
be
brief,
because
I
don't
want
to
mention
specific
organizations.
The
one
that
I'll
skip
will
probably
be
the
one
that's
done
the
most,
but
there
are
organizations
that
have
been
there
for
a
number
of
years
that
have
worked
on
issues
from
the
largest
our
hospital
networks,
UPMC,
two
small
nonprofits
that
are
led
by
one
community
leader
who
is
assisting
in
getting
volunteers
out
of
a
neighborhood.
In
order
to
be
able
to
address
the
problem,
let
me
just
put
it
to
you
this
way.
D
B
Cheaply
and
I
can
I
can
draw
time
in
there.
So
I
think
that
that
that
you
know
to
us
it's
our
direct
service
providers,
I
think
recognizing
that
they,
before
this
crisis,
went
and
everyday
and
took
that
work
at
the
end
of
the
day
home
you
know
saw
things
that
were
unjust
and
saw
things
that
were
unfair
and
hard
to
see
and
then
went
home
and
their
families
and
got
up
and
did
it
the
next
day.
B
It's
particularly
hard
I
think
on
a
lot
of
our
direct
service
workers
right
now,
because
we
have
people
who
feel
and
I
know.
The
mayor
said
this
last
week
sidelined,
but
we've
seen
a
lot
of
them
say
you
know
it's
about
the
people.
I
know
that
there
are
a
lot
of
other
unmet
needs,
I'm
going
to
find
a
way
to
meet
those
needs.
B
I'm
gonna
I'm
gonna
get
food
out,
I'm
gonna
leave
harm-reduction
supplies
with
appropriate
social
distancing,
I
am
going
to
go
to
Pittsburgh,
cares
and
I'm
gonna
be
a
buddy
to
my
next-door
neighbor,
or
you
know,
someone
in
my
community
so
I
think
there's
this
adaptivity
innovation,
creativity
and
recognition
that
it's
about
the
people
with
whom
we
work,
and
maybe
not
always
about
that
specific
service
that
we
provide
I,
think
you
know
we
also
look
at
our
own
public
safety.
This
is
a
difficult
time
and
I
think
it's
difficult
for
everybody.
B
Public
Safety
has
adapted
in
a
lot
of
ways,
but
as
as
the
mayor
mentioned,
our
our
EMS
professionals
have
have
been
leaders
across
the
region
and
have
been
you
know,
diligently
preparing
not
only
to
manage
this
crisis,
but
all
the
crises
within
crises
that
are
occurring,
and
so
we
have
had
just
this
continuity
and
excellence
in
our
first
responders,
and
we
can
even
look
at
some
of
our
folks
that
you
know
we.
We
sometimes
get
concerns
expressed
about
people
who
are
unsheltered
being
outside
on
the
street.
Sidewalk.
That's
a
difficult
thing.
B
Congregate,
settings
right
now
aren't
always
the
safest
and
that's
a
paradigm
shift.
It's
something
that
the
CDC,
the
Health
Department
DHS,
our
provider
community,
are
showing
a
lot
of
leadership.
It's
not
been
solved,
so
we
have
people
outside
and
we
have
partners
in
police
making
sure
that
people
have
masks.
We
have
partners
in
the
provider
community
that
making
sure
we
have
hygiene
stations,
and
so
we
we
are
being
innovative
and
I.
Think
you
know.
The
other
thing
is
that
we're
preparing
people.
B
We
can
look
at
our
academies,
they're,
recognizing
that
we
have
to
adapt,
change
and
support.
What's
next
to
understand
our
communities
and
the
changing
roles
that
we
have
so
I
think
we
have
people
who
are
responding,
who
are
innovating
and
who
are
thinking
forward.
What's
next
and
then
the
people
who
are
just
chugging
along
because
their
their
work
is
essential
and
they
haven't
gotten
a
break,
and
you
know
I
think
we're
grateful
for
all
of
those
helpers.
A
We're
going
to
bring
our
conversation
to
a
close
could
spend
all
day
with
you
all
exploring
these
these
conversations.
These
topics
and
I
want
to
acknowledge,
too,
that
our
team
has
been
feeling
questions
and
posting
resources
as
well,
and
you
can
go
to
the
city's
cope
at
nineteen
a
web
page
to
see
those
resources
specifically
articulated
both
now
and
after
the
call
as
well,
but
in
terms
of
practical
takeaways,
a
question
that
I
certainly
often
get
is:
what
can
we
do
like
what?
What
can
I
do
to
be
involved?
How
can
I
help?
A
B
It's
a
helpful
question,
I
think
in
times
like
this,
sometimes
our
need.
Burek
reaction
is
action
and
we
see
all
of
the
precautions.
All
of
the
sacrifices
that
are
presently
being
made
so
I
think
the
most
important
thing
is
that
what
we're
doing
we
also
have
to
ensure
the
safety
of
the
people
with
whom
we
intend
to
serve.
B
You
know
who
we
intend
to
serve
and
ourselves
so
that
may
mean
stepping
back
and
not
doing
the
thing
you
would
normally
do,
but
rather
partnering
with
an
organization
that
has
the
expertise
and
the
understanding
of
how
to
approach
the
situation
thoughtfully
and-
and
that
could
be
you
know
going
through
the
food
bank
or
Pittsburgh-
cares
to
find
formal
volunteer
opportunities,
but
it's
it's.
It's
really
being
thoughtful
in
not
just
reactive
and
I.
Think,
that's
you
know
again.
B
We've
talked
about
it,
that's
exceedingly
difficult,
but
there's
a
way
to
do
it,
and
there
are
a
lot
of
partners
out
there
that
that
are
willing
to
to
talk
you
through
it
and
I
mean.
Certainly,
we
can
also
say
if
you
have
resources
to
share
the
Pittsburgh
foundation.
The
couldn't
find
a
chemise
emergency
fund
is
certainly
really
nothing
carefully.
All
of
the
work
that's
being
done
and
helping
to
make
sure
yeah.
D
I
would
just
say
exactly
what
Laura
said
when
we're
dealing
with
communities
that
are
homeless
that
are
addicted,
that
are
facing
mental
health
issue
that
are
veterans
that
have
not
been
able
to
transition
back
or
those
that
are
recently
incarcerated.
There
are
professionals
who
are
trained
in
being
able
to
provide
the
specific
assistance
that
those
folks
need
that
will
help
with
them
back
on
their
path.
D
Yeah
anybody
in
need.
So
if
you
find
yourself
in
need-
and
it
may
not
be
that
you
are
in
any
of
the
situations
we
talked
about
today,
because
that
was
our
focus
today-
those
critical
communities,
if
you
find
yourself
needing
anything,
go
to
Big
Bird
comm.
And
if
you
want
to
find
an
organization
where
you
can
help
go
to
Big,
Bird,
calm,
all.
C
One
way
we
can
all
be
of
help
is
to
change
our
lens
and
again,
I
would
look
at
seeing
people
as
people
right,
not
starting
an
addicted
person,
but
a
person
with
the
challenge,
not
a
homeless
person,
but
a
person,
that's
temporarily,
without
an
address
right
and
I.
Think
once
we
once
we
change
our
lens
once
we
have
more
of
a
lens
with
seeing
people
as
who
they
are
and
seeing
people,
as
you
know,
not
their
situation,
but
you
know
what
who
they
are
intrinsically.
B
B
We're
gonna
be
honest
about
what
we
don't
understand
and
we're
not
playing
a
blame
game
here,
we're
playing
a
listen
to
the
community
collaborate
and
and
work
as
hard
as
we
can,
as
the
mayor
had
said,
roll
up
our
sleeves
work
as
hard
as
we
can
to
figure
out
how
we
address
the
inequities
and
the
harms
that
people
are
facing
right
now
and
do
as
much
as
we
can,
as
chief
Layne
said,
to
prevent
those
harms.
But
we
have
really
good
partners
in
this
region.
We're
really
lucky.
B
A
Already,
barring
any
other
words
I
say
thank
you
to
each
of
you
for
spending
the
time
and
for
being
thoughtful
around
around
these
issues
and
for
all
the
work
that
you've
done
up
to
this
point,
both
known
and
unknown,
because
certainly
you
all
are
some
of
the
busiest
people
that
I
know
and
I
certainly
appreciate
that
there
will
be
the
next
and
this
of
these
conversations
on
Thursday
speaking
to
welcoming
Pittsburgh
work.
This
is
work,
look
at
the
blood
of
the
same
intersections
in
a
lot
of
ways.
A
They
serve
our
immigrant
and
Refugee
communities,
new
neighbors
to
the
region
and
tremendous
organizations,
work
in
city,
government,
philanthropy,
etc
there
as
well
so
please
tune
in
to
that.
We
will
do
our
best
to
answer
questions
that
have
come
up
in
the
chat
and
correspondence
folks
offline
individually,
and
please
look
at
the
official
city
page
and
the
other
resources
posted
for
more
information
in
the
meantime.
Thank
you
all
so
much
for
tuning
in,
and
we
will
see
you
next
time.