Letter: Affordable Housing Proposal

To the Editor:

An Affordable Housing Proposal

Units of affordable housing in Berkshire County need not be created with a one size fits all mindset. Affordable for who? Very often affordable housing is very costly, even excessively so for its creators or municipalities.

Here are some ground rules for a modest proposal taking these issues into consideration. First, not all units have to be built/completed at once. They can be put into place/built over a number of years, as budgets permit. Infrastructure costs should be kept low by using very close-by already existing infra structure.

Contract with a company like offsite B & B Manufacturing of Adams to build these affordable units, negotiating favorable prices based on volume and other cost saving methods. See: bbtinyhouses.com

These units will permanently be on wheels and tethered. They will have a downstairs bedroom and a second-floor loft. Suitable for a younger single person or young couple without children. Two-year leases between the municipality and tenant based on tenants' income, resources and family size. Municipality will map out lots and install all the site's hookups utilities at one time. New units can be added over several years.

Where? In Williamstown, the Spruces property with two or three rows directly along Route 2. I recall that an RV park was an allowable use of the property, and along the highway was outside the flood plain. However, the units could be moved during unlikely major flooding via their wheels. Units could even be color coordinated for a stunning effect.

Ken Swiatek
Williamstown, Mass.

New Camp Is Safe Place for Children Suffering Loss to Addiction

By Breanna SteeleiBerkshires Staff
06:26AM / Saturday, December 27, 2025

Last year's Happy Campers courtesy of Max Tabakin.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — A new camp is offering a safe place for children who have lost a parent or guardian to addiction. 

 

Director Gayle Saks founded the nonprofit "Camp Happy Place" last year. The first camp was held in June with 14 children.

 

Saks is a licensed drug and alcohol counselor who works at the Brien Center. One of her final projects when studying was how to involve youth, and a camp came to mind. Camp had been her "happy place" growing up, and it became her dream to open her own.

 

"I keep a bucket list in my wallet, and it's right on here on this list, and I cross off things that I've accomplished," she said. "But it is the one thing on here that I knew I had to do."

 

The overnight co-ed camp is held at a summer camp in Winsted, Conn., where Saks spent her summers as a child. It is four nights and five days and completely free. Transportation is included as are many of the items needed for camping. The camp takes up to 30 children.

 

"I really don't think there's any place that exists specifically for this population. I think it's important to know, we've said this, but that it is not a therapeutic camp," Saks said.

 

She said the focus is on fun for the children, though they are able to talk to any of the volunteer and trained staff. The staff all have experience in social work, addiction and counseling, and working with children.