Homeless resident tells council only six beds exist for women countywide; councilors express concern

Amanda Eisenbacher identified herself as homeless and told the council that Scranton and Lackawanna County have only six beds for women in emergency shelter. "Now after I leave here tonight, I have nowhere to go," she said, describing difficulty finding any lawful place to sleep and reporting that shelter spaces are occupied.

Eisenbacher also raised concerns about child‑welfare reporting, saying a caseworker she named was "under investigation, still being paid right now" and that her own childhood allegations were not properly pursued. She urged the city to address shelter capacity and the availability of reporting and support resources.

Councilors reacted with concern. Several said they were unaware of the small number of beds and asked administration to follow up. Councilor Mark McAndrew called the capacity "not acceptable" and asked that the issue be relayed to administration for immediate attention. The council discussed the homeless task force and asked staff to report when it meets and what outcomes it produces.

The council did not adopt immediate policy changes at the meeting. Members asked staff to gather and report back on available shelter capacity, task‑force activity and whether additional resources or coordination with county providers are needed.