Almost 200 participants of the second “Sleep-In for the Homeless” event slept at the front stairs of the City-County Building in downtown Pittsburgh Friday night. Tiffany Clark, a member of the Public Allies, was one of them.

“This is bigger than I thought. That means we got more donations for the homeless,” the 23-year-old Howard University graduate said as she prepared to join the sleepover.

The overnight event required a minimum donation of $25 per person. The money is to go to a nursing project providing basic health care and counseling to the homeless, said Mac McMahon, director of Homeless Programs of the Community Human Services.

Wearing a yellow hat and a gray sweatshirt, Clark served at her food station, offering sandwiches, chips and red apples. She said when volunteers first set up the station, a few homeless people grabbed some food and left.

Although she didn’t get the chance to watch the performance of the Raging Grannies, who chanted “housing now” over and over again, she didn’t miss the opportunity to take an outreach tour for the homeless in downtown.

At 9:50 p.m., her group of 10 participants set out, heading toward Sixth Avenue. Rain fell on the downtown streets.

Four homeless people sat at the front door of the First Presbyterian Church. Tiffany talked to a man in his 50s wearing a black-and-yellow Steelers hat.

He told her that once he was out on the street, it was hard to go back into a housing environment. He said sometimes he would stay at a friend’s house but always moved out because it’s too inconvenient. He had invited his friend to go to the City Council Building and get some food.

Around midnight, she settled herself near the statue of the former Mayor Richard Caliguiri, and said goodnight to her companions.

Monthly community services like this is part of Clark’s 10-month apprenticeship with the Public Allies. Last Month, the group volunteered at Global Links, a nonprofit dedicated to providing international medical aid.