Za'kiyah House

Call Directions Website Contact the organization

Za'kiyah House We demonstrate they aren’t alone, and holistic, understanding support awaits them to engage in a better way of life.

Mission

Our Mission at Za’kiyah House is to reduce homelessness, recidivism, and addiction through caring relationships, holistic community support, and necessary tools to empower individuals to find freedom. Organization Description

Za’kiyah House is a black-led, power-building organization that provides support services to persons experiencing homelessness, drug addiction, and re-entry in Pittsburgh. For over six years, Za’kiyah House has coordinated partnerships and resources to address the needs with minimal financial resources, and strong community partnerships. We began with drug recovery outreach events alongside cross-sector community partners, and have since grown to include two sober transitional houses, a life skills workshop series, a support group for grieving parents (Come Heal with Me), and mutual aid where we’re able to provide support. Our two locations offer comprehensive case management, counseling and crisis intervention, resources and referrals, education, and support groups in an effort to break the cycle of poverty by addressing its root causes. We recognize the relationship between incarceration, drug abuse and homelessness and the special need to address individuals facing these three conditions, empower them, and surround them with a supportive community. Unlike most facilities, we are run in community contexts, with staff connected to the population we serve as survivors of the same systems they are navigating and residents of the areas where many of our clients live. With this cultural competence, our staff is uniquely able to empower individuals, while modeling that they too can successfully live a life full of possibilities. Our housing services benefit people returning from jail, prison, or rehab—or referrals from other agencies supporting populations without stable housing. Our residents are between 18-65 years old and have a baseline ability to physically care for themselves (and as it pertains to their mental health and behavioral presentations). The population we serve is 90% Black from low income house holds.

10/23/2026

Some health conversations feel harder to start than others. Hepatitis C and other infections are two of them, and in recovery that silence can cost us a lot.

Here is what a lot of people do not know: hepatitis C is curable now. The treatment exists, it works, and most people who have it do not feel a thing until years later. Injection drug use, even years ago, is one of the biggest risk factors. So is being born between 1945 and 1965. The CDC recommends that every adult get tested for hep C at least once in their lifetime. Testing is not a verdict on your past. It is just information, and information you can act on.

One place in Pittsburgh that does this well is Allies for Health + Wellbeing, at 211 North Whitfield Street in East Liberty. Their rapid HIV and hepatitis C tests give results in about 20 minutes, and if something comes back positive, they can begin treatment right away or refer you to another provider who can. Hep C is curable with medication. HIV is treatable and manageable. They also test for syphilis, gonorrhea, chlamydia and mpox. Walk-in testing is available on Sundays, 9 to 11:15 a.m. and 1 to 4:15 p.m., with weekday appointments available too. They serve everyone, they do not turn patients away for being unable to pay, and their staff are trained to be judgment-free. You do not have to explain your whole story to be treated with respect.

Taking care of your body is part of recovery, and so is letting go of shame. If a test or a doctor visit is something you have been putting off, that is okay. Today can be the day you stop putting it off.

Our community at Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock is built on this same idea, that people heal when they are met with honesty and care instead of judgment. Grateful as always for our partners at Sojourner House and Crossroads walking this road with us.

Inbox Za'kiyah House if you have questions, want help finding the right appointment, or want to be part of this work. And share this with someone who needs to read it today.

Details, hours and eligibility can change, so please look up each organization directly or ask us to help you find current information. This is general community information, not medical advice. Please talk with a doctor about your own health.

Recovery Happens Together.

10/23/2026

One of the biggest reasons people don't call 911 during an overdose is fear: fear of police, fear of charges, fear of what happens to them or the person they're trying to help. In Pennsylvania, there's a law built around that fear.

Under Pennsylvania's Drug Overdose Response Immunity Act (Act 139 of 2014), a person who calls for help during an overdose in good faith can be protected from prosecution for certain drug-related offenses. The protection is not automatic: you generally need to give your name, stay with the person until help arrives, and cooperate with responders. If the caller qualifies, the person experiencing the overdose can be protected too. The immunity covers specified drug offenses; it does not cover everything, and evidence found independently of the call still counts.

The simple version: the call matters more than the question of who gets in trouble. Staying, giving your name, and talking to responders is what keeps that protection in place.

Naloxone is available in Pennsylvania without a prescription, and free naloxone and fentanyl test strips are available through PA DDAP's mail-order program and through local harm reduction organizations in Allegheny County.

This is general community information, not legal or medical advice. If someone is unresponsive or struggling to breathe, call 911 and stay with them.

Za'kiyah House in Homewood and North Braddock is part of a community that believes saving a life always comes first. Thank you to our partners Sojourner House and Crossroads for standing with us in this work.

Inbox Za'kiyah House to learn more or to connect with recovery support. Please share this with someone who might need it.

Recovery Happens Together.

10/22/2026

A shower, clean clothes, a charged phone, a place to rest, or an address where mail can find you are not “small things.” They can help someone hold onto an interview, an appointment, a court date, and their self-respect while rebuilding. Asking for everyday care is not a setback. You don’t have to be in a program or have every paper in order to ask for soap, a clean shirt, or a phone charge.

In downtown Pittsburgh, Second Avenue Commons Engagement Center at 700 Second Avenue welcomes adults 18+ every day, 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Showers, laundry, mail pickup, phone chargers, coffee and snacks, clothing, and space to rest or connect are available. Staff can help with vital documents, benefits, and connections to housing and behavioral health services. Pets and partners are welcome.

On the Southside, Unity Recovery’s Pittsburgh Recovery Community Center at 801 Bingham Street is a seven-day-a-week drop-in space. Anyone can walk in without enrolling. Support includes peer recovery specialists, all-recovery and 12-step meetings, life skills workshops, family support, help for people returning from incarceration, and hygiene kits, clean clothing, and daily essentials.

Details, hours, and eligibility can change. Please look up each organization directly or ask us to help you find current information.

At Za’kiyah House, our community at Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock believes care for the whole person helps stability stick. We’re grateful for our partners Sojourner House and Crossroads. Sometimes dignity comes before the plan.

Inbox Za’kiyah House to participate or learn more. Please share this with someone who might need it.

Recovery Happens Together.

10/22/2026

Returning to work after recovery or reentry takes courage, and you already carry strengths that employers value: dependability, resilience, accountability, patience, and the willingness to keep showing up. 💜

You do not have to be defined by your past. Prepare for interviews by practicing how you’ll speak about your journey with honesty, confidence, and focus on who you are today. Your skills may need rediscovering, but they have not disappeared. Every step forward is proof of your potential.

Fair-chance employers are out there, employers willing to see the person you are becoming, not only the challenges you have faced. Keep applying. Keep learning. Keep believing that your next opportunity is possible.

Za’kiyah House supports residents at Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock as they build stable, purposeful futures. We’re grateful to stand alongside community partners Sojourner House and Crossroads in supporting recovery and reentry.

If you’re preparing to return to work or want to encourage someone who is, inbox Za’kiyah House to participate or learn more. Please share. 🤝🏾💛

10/21/2026

Recovery is about caring for your whole self, including your health. 💜

Managing diabetes, high blood pressure, asthma, or chronic pain while in recovery can mean juggling appointments, medications, stress, and energy. You don’t have to figure it out alone. Small, supported steps can make a difference, and caring for a chronic condition is part of Restoring Every Aspect of Life.

Free Pittsburgh-area support includes:
• Community Wellness Initiative workshops at The Kingsley Association, with classes on diabetes, sleep health, and pain management. Registration is required; check CWI’s current schedule for upcoming sessions.
• Familylinks Community Health Workers, who can help with health education, medication routines, transportation to appointments, insurance questions, applications, and connecting with community resources.
• Vintage Senior Services’ free Better Choices, Better Health workshops for adults 60 and older living with ongoing conditions.

Our community at Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock, alongside partners Sojourner House and Crossroads, is here to remind you: support is within reach.

Inbox The Sanctuary or Za’kiyah House to learn more or get connected, and please share this with someone who could use it.

Program details, eligibility, and schedules can change; confirm directly with each organization. This is general community information, not medical advice. Talk with your doctor about your specific health needs.

Recovery Happens Together.

10/21/2026

Winter is coming to Pittsburgh, and the cold can be especially hard when you’re in early recovery or don’t have stable housing. We keep an eye on each other here. 💜

Check in on neighbors and people you care about. If someone seems confused, is shivering heavily, or hasn’t come inside, help connect them with support.

Keep these local resources handy:
• Allegheny Link: 866-730-2368 for emergency shelter placement, including families
• Call 211 for warming centers and other referrals
• Second Avenue Commons, 700 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, is an emergency shelter access point

Allegheny County’s Code Blue protocol activates when temperatures drop below 26°F. During Code Blue, shelters stay open 24 hours and outreach teams prioritize helping people get inside.

At Za’kiyah House, supportive housing in Homewood and North Braddock is part of how we show up for our community. Please share these resources with someone who may need them.

For support or to learn more, inbox Za'kiyah House.

10/20/2026

Recovery is a time to rebuild, not just routines, but the body and brain, too. 💜 Substance use can deplete nutrients and disrupt regular eating. Regular mealtimes matter: hunger can sometimes feel like cravings. Balanced meals with protein, complex carbs, fiber and healthy fats can help support steadier energy and mood as the body heals. Good nutrition can also support managing chronic conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure during recovery. For personal nutrition needs, talk with a doctor or registered dietitian; this is general community information, not medical advice.

Looking for local food and growing resources? Just Harvest’s Fresh Access is available at 14 Allegheny County farmers markets. Swipe SNAP/EBT at the Just Harvest or market manager tent for tokens, plus Food Bucks: as of September 2026, $2 in Food Bucks for every $2 of SNAP spent, usable only for fruits, vegetables and food-bearing plants. Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank’s OrderAhead lets you order groceries for pickup; pantry and distribution options are also available. Pantry eligibility is generally tied to income at or below 185% of the federal poverty level, with emergency assistance available. Grow Pittsburgh offers community garden resources for growing some of your own food.

At Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock, we know healing is strengthened by community. We’re grateful for partners Sojourner House and Crossroads.

Inbox The Sanctuary or Za’kiyah House to participate or learn more, and please share. Program details, eligibility and schedules can change; confirm directly with each organization.


Recovery Happens Together.

10/19/2026

Hearing is one of those things we rarely think about until it starts slipping.

Missing words in a meeting, mishearing medication instructions, or withdrawing from conversation can quietly weaken connection in recovery. A hearing check can support confidence, dignity and connection.

Pittsburgh-area options:
• Pitt SHRS Wellness Pavilion in Homewood offers free audiology services Tuesdays, 9 a.m.–4 p.m., by appointment: evaluations, hearing aid fittings, troubleshooting and repairs, battery assistance, and amplified or captioned phone resources. No medical referral needed; Homewood, Wilkinsburg, East Liberty and surrounding neighbors are welcome.
• HDS offers an income-based Hearing Aid/Assistive Listening Device Grant Program for Allegheny County residents. Contact their office to ask about eligibility.
• Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) generally doesn’t cover hearing aids for adults over 21. If you have a managed care plan, ask about additional benefits.

At Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock, practical supports help rebuild a whole life. We’re grateful to walk alongside Sojourner House and Crossroads.

Want help getting connected or learning more? Message The Sanctuary or Za’kiyah House.

Program details, eligibility and schedules may change; please confirm directly with each organization. This is general community information, not medical advice.

Recovery Happens Together.

10/18/2026

Blurry vision can quietly make recovery harder: misreading a medication label, missing the bus, or straining to follow along in a meeting. Seeing clearly supports safety, confidence, dignity, and independence. 💜

If cost or insurance has been a barrier, here are a few Pittsburgh-area options to ask about:
• Pitt Ophthalmology’s Eyes on Wheels/eyeVan offers free comprehensive eye exams for underserved communities in western Pennsylvania, regardless of income or insurance. Appointments are arranged by phone or email; some partner-site clinics require you to be a patient there.
• VisAbility Pittsburgh’s Vision Benefits Program, with the Pennsylvania Vision Foundation, offers free eye exams and eyeglasses for eligible individuals. Contact them to discuss eligibility and scheduling.
• Pennsylvania Medical Assistance (Medicaid) covers adult eye exams, but generally not eyeglasses for adults 21+. Ask your managed care plan whether it offers additional benefits.

One phone call can be a first step. Please confirm services, eligibility, and schedules directly with each organization: details can change. This is general community information, not medical advice.

Our community at Richards Place in Homewood and Donnelle Safe Haven in North Braddock, alongside partners Sojourner House and Crossroads, is here to remind you: support can start with one small step. Please share, and inbox The Sanctuary or Za’kiyah House to learn more.

Recovery Happens Together.

Address

7729 Susquehanna Street
Pittsburgh, PA
15208

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 6pm
Tuesday 10am - 6pm
Wednesday 10am - 6pm
Thursday 10am - 6pm
Friday 10am - 6pm

Telephone

+14123539365

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Za'kiyah House posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Za'kiyah House:

Shortcuts

Share