Winter survival bags can be lifesavers for those without housing
Susan Rauscher chuckled under her mask when asked in jest how she knew Saturday morning would be one of the best days to distribute winter clothing to the homeless.
“My car said it was 6 degrees on the drive in here today,” said the executive director of Catholic Charities. “I guess it could be a good day or a bad day for this. I’d hate to be standing in line outside right now to get one of our bags.”
Ms. Rauscher coordinated the distribution Saturday of 225 13gallon drawstring plastic bags filled with cold-weather essentials at the group’s office and winter warming station at 212 Ninth St., Downtown. Nearby, at the corner of Ninth Street and Liberty Avenue, volunteers passed out cups of hot chocolate.
A survey last year found that there were 692 homeless people in Allegheny County, with just over 500 staying in shelters. County officials said a rise in omicron COVID-19 cases forced a delay in the release of its January 2022 count, now expected to be available in February. But Ms. Rauscher said the current dip in temperature and continued problems related to the pandemic have filled the available beds at city shelters.
The temperature dropped to 9 degrees Friday night — no time to be sleeping on a sidewalk. Most of the city’s homeless people probably were able to duck into a warm building for the night, said Ms. Rauscher. But many are not fully outfitted to endure a Pittsburgh winter.
“I got up today and was able to put on a warm sweater and a coat. For whatever reason, a lot of these people didn’t have that luxury,” she said. “Anyone who stepped outside this morning can connect with them and feel a little of what it must be like.”
Catholic Charities’ winter survival bags had to be claimed by voucher days earlier by individuals and nonprofit relief groups. Each contained a men’s quilted rain parka with a wind-resistant outer shell, purchased specifically for the needs of the homeless. A durable backpack contained bags of underwear and socks, long underwear, a warm hat, gloves, a blanket, a hand warmer, toothbrush and toothpaste and hygiene lotion.
Friday night, volunteer physicians and EMS workers delivered 50 of the bags to people who were found outdoors or known to have inadequate shelter. Distribution of the remaining 175 kits began at 8:30 a.m., a half hour early Saturday, after a small crowd of pre-registered people gathered outside Catholic Charities.
“The bags are packed genderspecific, but there is more men’s gear than women’s,” said Ms. Rauscher. “There are more homeless men than women, and most of the women ask for extra-large menswear because they like to layer.”
She said she wasn’t aware of children living outdoors.
Most of the supplies were purchased at discount prices, using donations. Steve Blanco, past president of Catholic Charities, has continued to help with the annual winter supply program. His company, MSA Safety in Cranberry, donated $15,000 in late 2021 and gives his employees days off for volunteering at this and other charity events. Most of the volunteers who stuffed and distributed bags or poured hot chocolate work for MSA.
“Every one of these cases is completely individual,” Ms. Rauscher said of the homeless. “Sometimes it’s a mental health issue or an alcohol or drug dependence. Some families have tried and tried and tried to help them but can’t make any headway. Everybody can try to give them great resources, but their brains can’t encapsulate what is the best next step.”
Mental health issues can cause some people to feel uncomfortable indoors, she said. Some can’t get banned substances inside shelters and would rather stay outside than give them up.
Sometimes homelessness ends in the worst way, said Ms. Rauscher: Two people staying at a Catholic Charities shelter walked out and died of possible overdoses last week.
“I knew them,” said a man who would identify himself only as Ray, walking up the sidewalk carrying a Catholic Charities bag. “It’s too cold to go outside for that.”