Published on June 08, 2026
Office of Community Health and Safety Receives $800,000 to Expand Unhoused Outreach Services
Pittsburgh, PA – The O’Connor Administration has announced that the City of Pittsburgh has received up to $800,000 in funding from the Allegheny County Department of Human Services to expand the Office of Community Health and Safety’s (OCHS) Reaching Out On the Streets, or ROOTS, program.
The ROOTS program provides direct support to people who are homeless or experiencing housing instability. Interdisciplinary Zone Teams coordinate with people to address their needs such as human services, drug and alcohol treatment, housing, healthcare, behavioral health, and criminal legal navigation.
“I’d like to thank County Executive Innamorato and the Department of Human Services for their partnership in providing support services for unhoused individuals and this generous funding that will allow the City to expand the reach and impact of the ROOTS program,” said Mayor Corey O’Connor.
This funding is an investment in expanding the ROOTS program and its impact. ROOTS will bring on six new full-time employees and four part-time employees in order to expand their team coverage to seven days a week, including evenings and weekends. This will help enhance homeless outreach for those who need help navigating support systems like shelter, housing and healthcare treatment.
Allegheny County DHS selected ROOTS through a competitive solicitation to bolster its housing-focused street outreach efforts Countywide. The award not only expands hours for ROOTS but also defines coverage areas across the county and will allow for focused, rapid deployment when a person needs assistance. This is part of the County's ongoing efforts to offer help to people experiencing unsheltered homelessness, including operating the emergency shelter system and extending resources to move people from shelter to stable housing.
ROOTS will also invest in operational supplies and vehicles through this funding. Operational supplies include items for hygiene, wound care, basic clothing needs, transportation resources, and gear for cold weather. Vehicles will be used by the team for transportation and response.
The funding will be presented to Pittsburgh City Council for consideration on Tuesday. To learn more about the ROOTS program or other OCHS programs, visit https://www.pittsburghpa.gov/Safety/Office-of-Community-Health-and-Safety.
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Molly Onufer Press Secretary molly.onufer@pittsburghpa.gov