THE WATERSHED OF homestead

Homestead was chartered in 1880 and sits about seven miles up the Monongahela River from downtown Pittsburgh. Homestead Run and West Run are tributaries of the Monongahela, which are both classified as ‘impaired’ by the PA Department of Environmental Protection. They do not meet water quality standards that support aquatic life, fish consumption, potable water, or recreation. 

A railroad, glass factory, and iron mill caused the population to boom after 1883, bringing in money and shipping out natural resources. The Carnegie Library of Homestead was opened to the public in 1898, and the historic district includes the site of the Homestead Strike of 1892. The Homestead Steel Works, which closed in the 1980's, was developed into the open-air shopping district The Waterfront. You can still spot the smoke stacks that once filled the air with byproducts.

Report Source Water Pollution
Call 911 in an emergency
Three Rivers Waterkeeper: 412-589-9411 | Pollution Report Form
SW DEP Pollution Hotline: 412-442-4000 
PA Fish and Boat Commission: 855-347-4545 
EPA Region 3: 1-800-424-8802

Water assistance

PA American Water and AlcoSan are the drinking water and sewage treatment providers in Homestead. 
PA American Water customer assistance programs:
  • Payment Arrangements: 
    • If you know you will have trouble making a payment on time, contact 1-800-565-7292. 
  • Medical Certification:
    • If a member of your household has a medical condition that requires water services and you know you will have trouble making a payment, contact 1-800-565-7292. 
  • Protection from Abuse and Other Court Orders
    • If you have a Protection From Abuse (PFA) or other court orders then you can have protections placed on your water service. To receive these Protection from Abuse protections, contact Pennsylvania American Water at 717-550-1538.
    • More information about these protections can be found here
ALCOSAN Assistance
  • Start by calling Dollar Energy Fund at 1-888-282-6816. They can take your application by phone or help you find a local social service agency for your application. You will need to provide a copy of your water/sewage bill, which includes ALCOSAN charges, as well as your Social Security number and proof of your monthly household income.
Other assistance programs: For more information and help with navigating bills and qualifications, call:

Transportation Assistance​

Action Housing 
  • Affordable Housing, Weatherization, Youth Programs, etc.

ACCESS program
  • ACCESS is a door-to-door, advance reservation, shared–ride transportation program provided throughout Allegheny County and to destinations in adjoining counties within 1.5 miles of Allegheny County.
    • ACCESS ADA Program
      • To request an application, please call the ACCESS program office at (412) 562-5353 or TTY 711.
    • ACCESS 65 Plus Program
      • Provides an 85% discount on ACCESS fares for anyone aged 65 or over. 
      • Call (412) 562-5353  or TTY 711 to find the 65 Plus registration center nearest to you and its schedule. People with valid government-issued photo ID may apply through the mail.

Senior Citizen's free bus passes 
  • Connect cards are available for senior citizens to ride Port Authority buses. 
  • Contact local representative for application 
  • 1633 Pennsylvania 51 Suite G-102 Jefferson Hills, PA 15025

food assistance

Rainbow Kitchen
  • Currently distributing food by individually scheduled appointments only. Participants who are already signed up for the pantry receive a call from Rainbow Kitchen each month to schedule their pick-up time. If you live in our service area (see above) and are in need of food assistance, please call 412-464-1892 for more information and to register for the pantry.
  • Anti-hunger programs, case management assistance, vision services
    • Breakfast is served from 9:30 am – 10:30 am, Monday through Friday, at Rainbow Kitchen.  We are currently providing the daily meals as grab-and-go, individually packaged in take-out containers.
    • The pantry provides at least a 7-day supply of supplemental groceries, as well as essential non-food items.
    • Loving Arms Food Pantry, the Living Well Food Pantry, the Methouse Food Pantry and the Second Baptist Food Pantry. These pantries serve low-income elderly residents of local seniors’ apartment buildings each month.
    • Kids Café is designed to meet the needs of low-income children who are at risk of hunger. Operating in collaboration with area programs serving at-risk youth, Kids Café provides participating children with a hot, balanced, nutritious dinner meal, Monday through Friday, year round.
  • Address: 135 East 9th Avenue
  • Phone: 412-464-1892
  • Email: [email protected]

employment & Education assistance

Caregiver Support Program
  • The Caregiver Support Program (CSP) assists family and friends over the age of 18 caring for their loved one in their home. The focus is to respond to the needs of the caregiver so that they are able to provide the best care possible for their loved one.
  • Contact:
    • Phone: 412-350-5460
1-800-344-4319 (Toll-free)
  • Address: Weekdays, during business hours
Birmingham Towers
2100 Wharton Street, Second Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15203

Builders Guild of Western PA 
Vibrant Pittsburgh
  • Job Boardspecifically focused on attracting a diverse group of talent to the Pittsburgh region.

Urban Seniors Job Program 
Bank On Greater Pittsburgh 
  • Providing access to low-income financial services and education to residents to help the unbanked and under-bank community to establish banking.  
    • (412) 227-4210

Homestead Library
  • Free adult and youth programming
  • Check out digital and print media, learn a new language, use the computer, see a performance, or get a membership to the athletic club.

Homestead Forms​

  • After completing the form, please mail it to the Borough Office, or drop it off at the proper department of the Borough office:
    Homestead Borough
    221 East 7th Avenue
    Homestead, PA 15120
    Forms may also be faxed to the Borough at 412-461-4057. Faxing a form to the Borough does not exempt you from payment of the fees associated with the application.
  • Resident Complaint Form​
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  • Cable: Comcast or Verizon
  • Gas: Peoples 1-800-654-6335
  • Electric: Duquesne Light (412) 393-7100
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Get your taxes done for free at the Homestead library
  • Beginning February 1st until April 11th,  AARP Tax-Aide will be doing taxes for Carnegie Library of Homestead patrons for free every Tuesday and Thursday from Noon to 4 PM.
  • You must schedule an appointment beforehand. Please call the library to make an appointment and you MUST read the information below to ensure you bring everything required for your appointment. Your taxes will not be done if you do not bring everything required.
  • The online intake form can be filled out here: http://taxaide-pittsburgh.com/

Additional resources

  • Disaster Distress Helpline: 1-800-985-5990 // CALL or TEXT 
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: 1-800-273-8255 or TEXT: 8388255
  • National Suicide Prevention Lifeline (en Espanol): 1-888-628-9454
  • National Domestic Violence Hotline: 1-800-799-7233 or text LOVEIS to 22522
  • National Alliance on Mental Illness: www.nami.org/help, 1-800-950-6264 or [email protected]
  • National Child Abuse Hotline: 1-800-422-4453 // CALL or TEXT 
  • National Sexual Assault Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
  • Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Helpline: 1-800-662-4357
  • Allegheny county department of human service Medical Assistance Transportation Program(MATP): 1-888-547-MATP (6287) https://connect.alleghenycounty.us/food-transportation-and-other-essentials/ 
  • Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, Doorstep delivery program:  412-460-3663 x720  https://pittsburghfoodbank.org/what-we-do/individuals-families/doorstep-delivery/ 
  • Meals on Wheels Pennsylvania: contact LuAnn Oatman at [email protected] 
  • Free Charity Cars for free/low cost cars: apply on their website: https://freecharitycars.org
  • ​Center for Victims 
    • 24-Hour Crisis Hotline 1-866-644-2882
    • Including Domestic violence, rape and sexual assault, child sexual assault and physical abuse, elder abuse, homicide, burglary and incidents of mass violence.
  • Steel Smiling: If any Black person in Pittsburgh is uninsured and in need of mental health therapy, please let us know. 
  • PA Get Help Now - Substance Abuse 
    • 24/7-Hotline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357)
    • 326 Third Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15222
  • Community Care Behavioral Health 
    • After-hours access to drug and alcohol services: 1-800-553-7499 
  • Non-emergency drug and alcohol questions:
    • 412-350-3328,
    • TTY/TDD 412-350-3467
    • (8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.)
  • The Resolve Crisis Network Engagement Center - Comprehensive 24/7 crisis service for individuals and families whose identified crisis relates to substance abuse:
    • 1-888-796-8226 
  • Warmline for emotional support from peers:
    • 1-866-661-WARM (9276)

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