'Safe Haven' Facility Coming to Pittsfield

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — An upcoming supportive housing facility will be a "Safe Haven" for people struggling with mental illness, substance use disorder, and homelessness.

Christine Haley, Berkshires site director from the state Department of Mental Health, told the Homeless Advisory Committee on Wednesday that a Maplewood Avenue property will become a Safe Haven this summer. The facility will employ a "housing first" model to provide an alternative to shelter placement.

"The model is based on engaging people and eventually trying to get them housed," she said.

"You don't have to be agreeing to have treatment. You don't have to take medications. You don't have to be stable. You don't have to be sober. You don't have to want to be sober. It's a real harm reduction model."

The seven-bed shelter is projected to open at the beginning of July and will be operated by Clinical & Support Options, a nonprofit community behavioral health agency. Job listings identify the location as 39-41 Maplewood Ave., a multi-unit building that was recently renovated.

The Safe Haven program serves chronically unhoused individuals who are also struggling with addiction and major mental illness conditions such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, borderline personality disorder, and more.

The Massachusetts Association for Mental Health explains: "Many Safe Haven clients choose to engage (or re-engage) in behavioral health treatment, but this is not a requirement to receive Safe Haven housing. A successful transition to permanent housing — often with ongoing support services or directly into permanent supportive housing — is the most important goal and expected outcome for all clients."

For admission, a person has to be eligible for services from the state Department of Mental Health.

"They have to go through the eligibility process," Haley said.

Pittsfield Remembers Lives Lost to Overdose, Underscores Harm Reduction

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33AM / Tuesday, September 01, 2026

Mayor Peter Marchetti reads a proclamation at City Hall encouraging residents to raise awareness and lift each other up. 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Dozens of people gathered downtown on Monday to remember those lost to overdose and work toward a future of zero deaths from substance use disorder. 

The Berkshire Overdose and Addiction Prevention Collaborative and its partners held a proclamation reading and flag-raising at City Hall, followed by a standout in Park Square with signs promoting the use of naloxone, harm reduction, and reducing associated stigma. 

There were 23 fatal overdoses in Berkshire County in 2025, 11 in Pittsfield. This is down 44 percent from the 41 countywide fatalities in 2024. 

While it is a significant decrease, advocates want to see that number at zero. 

"On the one hand, we're very pleased to see this significant of a decrease. This is actually the lowest number that we've had since [Department of Public Health] started collecting these numbers in 2013, but the goal is still zero," said Andy Ottoson, public health planner with the Berkshire Regional Planning Commission. 

August is International Overdose Awareness Month, the world's largest annual campaign to end overdose, remember those lost without stigma, and acknowledge the grief of families and friends left behind. September is National Recovery Month, a national observance to educate the public on the importance of substance use treatment and mental health services.

Samantha Kendall of Berkshire Harm Reduction explained that it is truly meeting people where they are, as they are, and when they are, "and I think we all do a really great job at that."

"We also want to remember that we're building a community for everybody, and systems and policies for everybody. That's really important in harm reduction work, so that's also the reason we're here today," she said.