PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Tenants began moving into the new permanent supportive housing units on West Housatonic Street this week.
The 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic St. combine affordable housing with voluntary support services. There are also nine supportive units at The First, on First Street, and a housing resource center with bathrooms, lounge spaces, lockers, and more.
President and CEO of Hearthway Eileen Peltier reported that a handful of people moved into the West Housatonic Street apartments on Tuesday, and more people will move in over the coming weeks.
"And before we know it, we will be fully leased up there as well," she told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.
The nine units at the Zion Lutheran Church, also managed by Hearthway, are going "very well," Peltier said, and the organization is working with ServiceNet to support everyone.
ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush said the winter warming shelter operated in the dining room of First United Methodist Church will close for the season after April 17.
Forbush estimated that they have seen more than 300 people come through the doors, an average of 35 to 40 people per night, and that it has been a positive experience. This is more than double the number of people reported to have used the warming center the previous winter.
"This year, we've been able to connect with a lot of people via case management," she said.
"The main shelter, The Pearl, is operating at 40 beds, and we do that year round, and the beds have been full. As soon as somebody moves out, we're able to move somebody in based on the wait list, and then that all dovetails with The First as well."
The First housing resource center opened in February in the basement of the Zion Lutheran Church, and averages about 50 visitors per day. It is funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars.
Forbush said lockers have been a "big asset" and are being fully utilized.
"It's a good space to be in. It really is a little micro community. People are looking out for each other. They're looking out for the space. They're valuing the space," she explained.
"It’s really nice to see that community develop in a space because that community has always been there, but now they have a place to go. They have the amenities they need with the shower, laundry, bathrooms, and lockers."
She estimated that about 75 to 100 different people will come into The First every week. It is open daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.; Sundays are the busiest days.
Pittsfield's Director of Community Development Justine Dodds said this indicates that the space and the amenities are what people wanted and needed.
Peltier commended ServiceNet for its management of the center and said she enjoys her regular check-ins with the organization and the Zion church.
"Every week there's so much positivity that it's actually working in the way that we had hoped, and a lot of that is from all the work we did, but it's also the team that ServiceNet has put together to be with people there day to day and support it," she said.
"And it's the people who are coming in who are just fabulous and really wanting to engage and be part of things, and really care about how the space operates and how it's perceived in the community."