Letter: Disappointed With MCLA Decision on Shelter
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To the Editor:
I read with disappointment MCLA's decision not to move forward with proposed housing for the homeless on their campus. I have also been reading with even greater disappointment, the commentary surrounding the proposed location as well as comments I have heard from folks around the city. Much of what I read and heard was deeply rooted in NIMBYism, stigma and implicit bias around the issues of homelessness and substance use disorder.
And while MCLA President Birge stated that there were many unanswered questions that prompted his most recent decision, I would think that the tone of our community and our leadership had a lot to do with the outcome.
I want to thank Jess Sweeney for her recent letter regarding the need to help people of which I am in complete agreement, excepting one part. Ms. Sweeney chastised local leadership including President Birge for adding further trauma to the families that might have been impacted. Let us remember that he was the one who championed the idea of helping the homeless, he stood firm against the opposition and both unnecessarily and unfortunately took his lumps.
Most of what I read and heard was baseless in fact and fraught with misinformation. All of those writing letters and voicing opinions in opposition to include local officials, seemed to be asking all the right questions however they provided their own assumed and damning answers. Answers based in speculation and not fact, prompting fear and angst. In my humble opinion, there would not have been enough of correct answers, enough truth, to change the minds of those opposed.
But now that it is over so-to-speak, let's look at what I think was the biggest takeaway ... how we as residents and leaders presented ourselves and how we have been seen. To me, the most concerning part of the entire issue and
commentary was the implicit bias and stigma based statements that sadly framed the discussion. One communication mentioned that Massachusetts is a "welcoming state." What I have read and heard certainly doesn't make it seem
that we are.
That includes sentiments such as: I hope they find shelter as soon as possible, but not here. Recovery housing will kill the college. I'm all for identifying safe and comfortable housing for our local homeless, but not in my neighborhood. The
idea of importing more poor people is awful and destructive. What message does it send to parents who are bringing their children here when the college has substance abuse housing on one side and homeless families on the other? It is a nightmare in my community.
When the second collection comes up in church for the homeless or for those struggling with substance use, before we drop some cash in the basket, should we ask for clarification where that money will be spent?
I would like to see conversations take a tone that reflects who I believe we are as a community. I like to think that the City of North Adams is a much kinder place than has been portrayed by the outspoken critics.
While this was a complex issue, we are dealing with real live people and families who need help ... that should have been the focus. We could have been productively speaking about the people who need a place to live and/or a place to recover. We could have had a conversation about how we might help ... not the poor people, not the people who might siphon off our limited services, not the kids who would over burden our schools, not just a yes to local homeless, but yes
to people who need help. It is so easy to say "no" to something that we do not and refuse to understand.
As this MCLA issue is laid to rest and before we have another "uncomfortable" request, maybe it is time for our state and city leaders to convene and have discussions about community attitudes. Maybe continuing conversations on how
to better communicate and think through issues without political noise and neighborhood vitriol. Let's face it folks, there was never a push on either side of the topic to talk about how we might make this work.
As Jess Sweeney said, leadership should have helped the community understand why giving people
shelter is necessary.
Whatever comes our way down the road, I hope we can remember that the folks who come to our city needing help are real, live, breathing people. What will help is when we realize that we cannot solve world problems until we get a handle on our own. Be kind!
Richard Alcombright
North Adams, Mass.
