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Pittsfield advisory committee schedules April 9 housing fair; shelter reports full beds and steady winter demand
Summary
Vice Chair Justine Dodds reminded the Homeless Advisory Committee of an April 9 Housing Resource Fair at The First; The First reported averaging 35–40 shelter guests per night with about 300 unique people served this winter and its 40‑bed main shelter consistently full. West Housatonic move‑ins are under way.
At the April 1 meeting of the Pittsfield City Homeless Advisory Committee, Vice Chair Justine Dodds told members the next Housing Resource Fair will be held April 9 at The First and asked committee members to invite service providers and partners to attend.
Erin Forbush, a committee member who works with The First, said the organization will continue operating its winter shelter through the evening of April 17. Forbush reported The First has averaged roughly 35–40 people a night and that about 300 unique people used services during the winter season. She said the facility’s main shelter operates 40 beds that are consistently full and that daytime hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., seven days a week. Forbush also described guest workshops the organization runs on hobbies and skills.
Eileen Peltier reported that residents are beginning to move into the West Housatonic housing project and that the transition appears to be going well.
Votes at a glance: The committee unanimously approved the minutes from its March 4 meeting (motion by Chris Haley; second Erin Forbush). The meeting was later adjourned by a unanimous motion from Matthew Buckley (second Karen Ryan).
Materials circulated with the meeting listed service providers slated for the April 9 fair, including Elder Services; Second Street Second Chances; Soldier On; Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity; Pittsfield Housing Authority; Nonotuck Resource Associates; Elizabeth Freeman Center; Outpatient Care Management at BHS; Hearthway; The Christian Center; and other community partners (some names in the circulated attachment appeared garbled and were not specified in the meeting notes).
