Central Berkshire Habitat asks council to support eviction navigation program serving about 800 Pittsfield residents

Carolyn Valli, CEO of Central Berkshire Habitat, presented the nonprofit’s Community Navigator Program, which she said offers one-on-one support to whole households throughout the eviction process and aims to prevent homelessness in Pittsfield.

Valli told the Human Services Advisory Council the program expects to reach about 800 Pittsfield residents this year and estimates 58% of those served will be minorities. She said the organization expects 540 residents to maintain stable housing, 360 to successfully access housing-related supports, and 270 to improve housing stability; the requested investment would fund 500 hours of direct navigation services. Valli also summarized recent home sales by the organization: “In the last year we sold 6 homes, 4 of which were single women head of households, two were dual incomes” (presentation remarks paraphrased from the meeting record).

Council member Lindsay Codwise asked whether Habitat tracked single- versus dual-income households; Valli said she did not have exact statistics available at the meeting but repeated the recent sales figures. Brian Whitman asked about volunteer roles; Valli said volunteers assist with specific tasks throughout the year.

The presentation focused on outreach and casework capacity rather than a specific funding amount or budget line; the transcript records expected outcomes and hours sought but does not list a dollar request. The council did not take a formal vote on the presentation during the recorded meeting.

Next steps: the organization presented program metrics and service needs for council consideration; any formal funding request or motion did not appear in the meeting transcript.