Northern Berkshire United Way Receives Emergency Funds For Assistance

01:30PM / Friday, February 25, 2022Print Story | Email Story

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Emergency Food and Shelter Program Awarded Berkshire County $62,726 in Phase 39 (FY20) and $193,871 in Phase ARPAR (FY21) Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP) assistance funding.

Northern Berkshire United Way, local administrator of the program, urges qualifying organizations located throughout Berkshire County to submit an application for supplemental emergency food and shelter and to obtain it at this link: https://www.nbunitedway.org/emergency-food-and-shelte-program

Local organizations chosen to receive funds must be private voluntary non-profits (with a voluntary board) or units of government; have an accounting system; practice non-discrimination; and have demonstrated the capability to deliver emergency food and/or shelter programs.

Applicants must submit their application by email only with their financial audit by midnight on Monday, Feb. 28, 2022 to: Christa Collier at ccollier@nbunitedway.org. Paper applications will not be accepted.

The funds are awarded through the Department of Homeland Security and the award is made the Emergency Food and Shelter Program National Board, that consists of representatives from the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, The Jewish Federations of North America, Catholic Charities USA, National Council of the Churches of Christ in the USA and United Way Worldwide.

Funds pass directly from the Department of Homeland Security to the EFSP program and then to local agencies that are awarded funding through a sub-committee of a local board made up of representatives of organizations that are not requesting or receiving funds determines the actual organizations that receive funding.

For Phase 38, EFSP awarded $67,202 which local representatives distributed to ten Berkshire County organizations: Berkshire Community Action Council, the Berkshire Food Project, the Cheshire Pantry, Child Care of the Berkshires, Elizabeth Freeman Center, Louison House, Northern Berkshire Interfaith Action Initiative, Salvation Army North Adams, Salvation Army Pittsfield and

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North Adams Housing Authority Director Steps Down

Staff Reports09:16AM / Friday, October 09, 2026

NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — Jennifer Hohn, the longtime executive director of the North Adams Housing Authority (NAHA), has stepped down after 24 years with the agency.

The Berkshire Eagle reported that Hohn resigned from her position on Thursday. The NAHA Board of Commissioners is currently developing a transition plan.

Her resignation follows rising tension between Hohn and the tenants association. Residents—particularly at the Spring and Ashland Park apartments—have raised specific concerns regarding building security, drug activity, and trespassers.

This summer, Tenants Association President Corey Fortin posted a video on social media demonstrating that door alarms in some of the buildings were not functioning.

Shortly after the video was posted, the tenants association's office was locked. Members alleged Hohn locked the space in retaliation, while Hohn maintained it was a matter of tenant safety. Hohn also stated that NAHA does not officially recognize the association because it has yet to go through official channels for certification—a claim the tenants association disputes.

The dispute culminated in plans for a formal grievance hearing between Hohn and the association. Both sides agreed to hold a meeting on Oct. 3, but the hearing had not yet been scheduled at the time of her resignation.
During her tenure as director, Hohn oversaw significant changes at NAHA, including expansion and the dissolution of Housing Opportunities Incorporated, a program founded over 30 years ago to assist first-time homebuyers. Most recently, she led efforts to transition NAHA properties from traditional public housing models to the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program. She also directed the rebuilding of a Greylock Valley Apartments building after it was severely damaged by a fire.

The NAHA Board of Commissioners meets monthly, typically on Mondays.

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