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Rocks cover the site of the former First Avenue and Boulevard of the Allies encampment, March 11, 2024, in downtown Pittsburgh. (Photo by Stephanie Strasburg/PublicSource)
Dear Reader,
This week, we published a story revealing that boulders have been placed where encampments once stood in downtown Pittsburgh — a move that raises questions about how the city balances public concerns with the needs of its unhoused residents.
For some, the presence of encampments sparks concerns about safety and the use of public spaces. For others, these spaces were the only shelter they had. What happens when people are pushed from one place to another, with no clear long-term solutions?
PublicSource has been following the experiences of unhoused people in Allegheny County since December 2022. Our Shelter Stakes project has spanned 32 stories so far, documenting displacement, policy shifts and the realities of living without stable housing.
With this and so many other topics, we don’t just report when a crisis peaks — we stay with the story. We follow the actions of those in power, the struggles of those affected and the effectiveness of efforts to address homelessness. And our reporting makes a difference. As we prepared to publish this week’s story on Pittsburgh’s use of boulders, we learned that large rocks were being dumped at yet another tent site, near the Allegheny County Jail. After we sent questions to the city, the rocks were removed — a telling reflection of unease around a tactic called “defensive architecture” by some and “hostile landscaping” by others.
This is journalism that informs, connects and holds decision-makers accountable. But we can’t do it without you.
PublicSource is nonprofit and independent, meaning we rely on readers like you to support our in-depth journalism. Your donation helps us continue to ask hard questions, provide a nuanced and fair view of this complex issue and examine how policies affect everyone involved.
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Thank you,
Halle Stockton
Co-Executive Director, Editor-in-Chief
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