Berkshire County Arc Names Vice President of Residential and Alternative Living Options

12:51PM / Friday, March 20, 2015Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire County Arc has hired Michael Menard-Weibel as its new vice president of residential and alternative living options.

In this role, Menard-Weibel provides oversight and direction for the agency’s residential program, maintenance department and alternative living options.

Menard-Weibel has nearly two decades of experience in the field of human services and holds a master’s degree in applied behavior from Westfield State University and a bachelor’s degree in public administration and psychology from the University of Massachusetts.

“I am thrilled to be part of the Berkshire County Arc family and to help support the agency’s mission of assisting and supporting our individuals in their quest to identify and realize their goals and dreams. That mission is carried out every day by our incredible staff. I will work tirelessly to make sure we have the best staff who are highly trained and feel supported in the amazing work that they do,” Menard-Weibel said.

“Michael brings a wealth of experience to this much-needed new position, and we’re pleased he has joined our team as we continue to enhance the lives of those we serve,” said Kenneth Singer, president & CEO of Berkshire County Arc.

Berkshire County Arc is a nonprofit, tax-exempt organization providing a broad range of community-based services to individuals with developmental disabilities, brain injuries and autism throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties in Massachusetts. For more information about Berkshire County Arc, visit bcarc.org.

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Pittsfield Housing Project Adds 37 Supportive Units and Collective Hope

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:01PM / Monday, December 29, 2025

PITTSFIELD, Mass.— A new chapter in local efforts to combat housing insecurity officially began as community leaders and residents gathered at The First on to celebrate a major expansion of supportive housing in the city.

The ribbon was cut on Thursday Dec. 19, on nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at The First, located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. The Housing Resource Center, funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars, hosted a celebration for a project that is named for its rarity: The First.

"What got us here today is the power of community working in partnership and with a shared purpose," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said.

In addition to the 28 studio units at 111 West Housatonic Street and nine units in the rear of the church building, the Housing Resource Center will be open seven days a week with two lounges, a classroom, a laundry room, a bathroom, and lockers.

Erin Forbush, ServiceNet's director of shelter and housing, challenged attendees to transform the space in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church into a community center. It is planned to operate from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. year-round.

"I get calls from folks that want to help out, and our shelters just aren't the right spaces to be able to do that. The First will be that space that we can all come together and work for the betterment of our community," Forbush said.

"…I am a true believer that things evolve, and things here will evolve with the people that are utilizing it."

Earlier that day, Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities Secretary Ed Augustus joined Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll and her team in Housatonic to announce $33.5 million in federal Community Development Block Grant funding, $5.45 million to Berkshire County.

He said it was ambitious to take on these two projects at once, but it will move the needle. The EOHLC contributed more than $7.8 million in subsidies and $3.4 million in low-income housing tax credit equity for the West Housatonic Street build, and $1.6 million in ARPA funds for the First Street apartments.

"We're trying to get people out of shelter and off the streets, but we know there are a lot of people who are couch surfing, who are living in their cars, who are one paycheck away from being homeless themselves," Augustus said.

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