Pittsfield Releases Draft 5-Year CDBG Plan

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city continues its more than 50-year run as a Community Development Block Grant entitlement community with a new five-year plan.

Earlier this week, the Office of Community Development released a draft of its Five-Year Consolidated Plan to address housing and other needs with Community Development Block Grant funds.

Covering July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2029, the plan proposes a $2.19 million budget in the first year that includes an estimated $1.25 million in federal CDBG funds. The office proposes to use funds in this coming cycle for projects addressing public facilities, removal of architectural barriers, public services, housing rehabilitation, economic development, clearance and demolition, planning activities, and administrative costs.

The 30-day public review and comment period runs from April 23 to May 23.  The plan can be viewed here.

"Due to a number of unknowns and the uncertainty of previous years in which HUD entitlement
programs have been cut, it's difficult to predict how the City will perform in achieving the goals and
objectives stated in this 5-year Consolidated Plan and fiscal year 2025 Annual Action Plan," the 350-page-plus document reads.

"Based upon the City's track record it may be assumed that the City will meet a high number of its proposed goals."

Pittsfield has been a part of the CDBG program since 1974 and receives its allocations from the  U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The program aims to provide decent, safe, affordable housing for low and moderate-income people, a suitable living environment with access to public/private facilities and services, and offer expanded economic opportunities and projects that promote empowerment and self-sufficiency for low-income people.

Low-to-moderate income is defined as an annual household income less than 80 percent of the area median family income.

As of 2023, there were over 43,500 residents in Pittsfield and more than 19,500 households.  The city's median income at this time was $68,386, and 32 percent of all households, renters and owners combined, have one or more severe housing problems.

Pittsfield's most common housing problem? Cost burden.  

"And especially in the three central census tracts (9001, 9002, and 9006), that generally comprise Morningside and Westside, where the AMI is about 54 percent of the AMI of the entire City," the plan states.

"The population of these three census tracts makes up 25 percent of the population and 28 percent of the City's households. The majority of residents in these areas are renters and a high percentage of them have severe housing problems due to low incomes. Secondary among housing problems is in substandard housing, having insufficient plumbing or kitchen facilities, among very low-income households."

Residents in the central city neighborhoods, elderly and/or disabled residents, African Americans, and those of Hispanic origin are disproportionately affected by cost burden.  

A statewide study released earlier this year says Massachusetts needs to increase its year-round housing supply by at least 222,000 units from 2025 to 2035 to stay competitive and lower costs, and "Every region of the state needs more homes in order to reach this statewide target."

In Pittsfield, the average single-family home value has increased by 44.8 percent from fiscal 2021 to fiscal 2025, now valued at $295,292.

A housing analysis found that 44 percent of Pittsfield's housing is multi-unit structures, and about 23 percent of those are affordable housing operated by the Pittsfield Housing Authority, Berkshire Housing Services Inc., or private ownership.

There is a "dramatic" increase in the number of people on the PHA waiting lists, with a significant number of extremely low-income applicants and people with disabilities. There are approximately 2,600 people on its Section 8 Housing Choice Mobile Voucher waiting list.  

About 632 Housing Choice Mobile Vouchers and 100 Project-Based Vouchers are currently in use, and the PHA does not anticipate receiving an increased allocation in 2026.

Pittsfield's 5-Year Consolidated plan targets low to moderate income households, the majority living in the Westside and Morningside neighborhoods. 

"These two neighborhoods have long been considered target areas within the City regarding the use of CDBG funds because of the fact that the highest percentage of low/moderate income households reside within the two areas and the existence of the oldest housing stock within the City," the plan reads.

"The needs within these two target areas are similar in that there is a need for housing rehabilitation, sidewalk reconstruction, demolition of vacant and condemned structures, improved parks, and increased public services for its residents."

The city's CDBG funds are estimated to leverage about $13,945,000 during the five-year period.

"CDBG funded activities that require matching funds from other sources (loans or private funds) are the Economic Development loans and technical assistance grants as well as handicapped accessibility loans. Additionally, the City's housing rehabilitation program generates leveraged dollars each year as well as improvements at the City parks and playgrounds," the plan reads.

"Public service agencies participating in the City's CDBG funded HSAC public service grants program are anticipated to leverage millions of dollars to support their programs for various federal, state, local and private sources."

Pittsfield expects to see around $1,250,000 in CDBG funds annually, with an anticipated $130,000 in regular program income per year and $535,000 available in revolving loan funds.  The city's general funds will contribute about $200,000 per year for salaries of CDBG program-related employees, and an additional $51,750 per year will be directed towards public human service agencies serving low- and moderate-income residents of Pittsfield.

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