Accompanying Individuals Navigating Life on the Street

Bridge to the Mountains is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization based in Pittsburgh, PA. The foundation of our work is building meaningful and consistent relationships with individuals experiencing homelessness. We travel to every neighborhood of Allegheny County to meet with folks living in tent encampments, cars, bus stops, abandoned buildings, and anywhere else people call home. We are able to facilitate connection to myriad resources, including, but not limited to: housing, health, and safety.

Vision

Often, helping organizations locate an “at-risk” community and enter it with an expertise and predetermined agenda for change or betterment. Bridge to the Mountains, rather, seeks to meet people where and how they are. We utilize a trauma-informed and humanistic approach, honoring agency and autonomy while supporting and addressing individuals’ unique needs and challenges as they arise. We aim to be above all else relationship-focused and feel privileged to be welcomed into communities of individuals living life on the street. We hope to continue to learn from and listen to the voices of all we encounter.

Values

  • All of our work is grounded in harm reduction. These principles are integral to our approach, challenging traditional norms and systems that have historically stigmatized and marginalized individuals based on their choices. We prioritize minimizing harm and providing non-judgmental support, recognizing that everyone's path is unique and valid.

  • We acknowledge and honor the lived experience of the individuals we serve, and recognize the historically traumatic role of “service providers” in the lives of our clients. We commit to approaching every individual with dignity and empathy, striving to create genuine relationships where trust and support can flourish.

  • We advocate for equity and justice, acknowledging the systemic, intersectional barriers that perpetuate houselessness. We are resolute in our efforts to dismantle these structures. We provide resources, education, and support, assisting the clients we serve in regaining agency and autonomy.

  • We collaborate with our clients, other organizations, and community members to create a web of support. We embrace and prioritize the needs and opinions of our community of service users in shaping the organization and its resources. 

Bridge to the Mountains is contracted by Allegheny County’s Department of Human Services. We have also received grant support from many local foundations including the Richard King Mellon Foundation and the Henry L. Hillman Foundation. We accept both monetary and in-kind contributions from churches, community groups, and independent donors.

Reach out for more information about how you can help support our mission.