Pearl Ambassador Program Enhances Pride in Downtown Pittsfield
PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Residents of The Pearl shelter have been cleaning downtown over the summer, creating a collective pride for the city while also taking pride in themselves.
From June to October, community members living at The Pearl volunteer to tidy the downtown three days a week and are paid with gift cards. The Pearl Ambassador Program, a pilot initiative run by Downtown Pittsfield Inc. and ServiceNet, is funded by a state grant; however, city officials would like to see it continue.
On Wednesday, the Homelessness Advisory Committee voted to write a letter of support for the program. About 15 residents have participated so far.
"The city is very interested in continuing to support this," Director of Community Development Justine Dodds said.
"…We may or may not be able to fund it for a number of different reasons, but we are committed to trying to get this to not just be a pilot, but to be something that is ongoing and sustainable."
Before the vote, DPI's Managing Director Rebecca Brien detailed the effort that was created by requests from members.
"They had concerns about the cleanliness in our downtown," she explained. "It was set up based on some models that we had seen in other communities. We wanted to work with someone locally."
The Pearl, a 40-bed shelter that opened on Pearl Street last year, was an obvious partner. Brien explained that DPI has an existing relationship with the shelter's operator, ServiceNet, and "We also felt that having an organization that had some guidance to be able to assist us in the facilitation of this was very important, as it was considered a pilot program."
"It's not just the self-esteem. The folks that are at the shelter want to contribute, and I think this has been a really nice way to show that their contributions are welcome and are beneficial," ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush said.
"... It has been great just as a whole, for us to be really accepted and to be seen as partners in the downtown, so we look forward to continuing that with the ambassador program and looking for other opportunities to do the same."
Funding was secured through a MassDevelopment Transformative Development Initiative Local Grant. The application was part of a larger sum, and $10,000 was allocated for the program.
"It was designed to be 24 weeks, so pretty much from the beginning of June through the end of October. It consists of three days out of the week, and it is two hours each day and two residents for each of those shifts," Brien explained.
"We are also welcomed by a representative from The Pearl who helps to guide and assist the individuals in terms of facilitating. Obviously, the residents themselves, though, are the ones who are doing the work. In exchange for that, the volunteers are provided a $20 per hour stipend in the form of gift cards."
Residents were consulted prior to the program's start, and decided that gift cards for Walmart and Amazon would be the most helpful, though gift cards to other places have been issued.
During the program, participants also receive gift cards for lunch at downtown establishments in addition to the stipend.
"On average, it's been about four residents and volunteers, along with the representative from The Pearl, who do that. Each is provided a $25 gift card to go towards that lunch, and if there's any remainder on the gift card, then they can use that as they see fit later on to either get takeout or dine on their own," Brien explained.
Some of the $10,000 went towards supplies, and ten residents took on an extra shift holding banners and balloons in the Fourth of July parade.
Program participants have reportedly been enthusiastic about cleaning up cigarette waste on the ground or in cigarette butt receptacles.
Last year, TerraCycle containers were installed in the downtown. Once collected and shipped back to TerraCycle, the cigarette waste is cleaned and separated by material type, and then recycled into raw formats that manufacturers use to make new products.
Over the past 13 weeks, they have collected almost 300,000 butts that will be recycled to make items like patio furniture and paper. After an ambassador's recommendation, six additional units were installed in high-use public areas, including Persip Park, Sotille Park, and Dunham Mall.
"The job that they have done over the past 24 weeks, of course, is to pick up litter. They wipe down the benches and kiosks. They sweep the sidewalks. They are very good at reporting any concerns or problems that we see," Brien said.
"Their training is to be able to do these types of jobs. When it comes to hazardous waste, they report back to us, and we work with the Health Department to do things such as cleaning up needles or waste that would be considered hazardous, and they are very good at making sure that everyone is safe."
A July press release says, "The Pearl Ambassador Program reflects a shared investment in both people and place, helping to build a stronger, more inclusive Pittsfield for all."
Committee members were glad to hear about the program's existence and success. Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey and Ward 6 Councilor Dina Lampiasi have submitted a petition to establish a dedicated downtown sanitation and hygiene program, which was referred to the mayor, public health and safety subcommittee, and director of public health.
"I know that you're already aware that I have a petition that I sent to the mayor about downtown sanitation, and you kind of have already hit the ball out of the park, but what can we do to help you expand this program? So instead of maybe three days a week, would we get five days?" Kavey asked.
Brien pointed out that the TDI funding was a one-time grant application and that funding is key for the program's continuation. She also highlighted the hours of work that DPI and ServiceNet staff put into it.
"I would love to see this continue into 2026, on a smaller increase, but I think anything beyond that will require a bit more research," she said.
She has been in contact with other communities who work with a national company who helps facilitate cleanups and provide additional training, "and I think, through organizations such as MassHire or things of that nature, that obviously this is a first step to be able to help individuals learn skills, soft skills we think that are very important, but also, I would love to see ways that this program could support them in applying for other jobs and acting as a reference for them."
There have been criticisms about the pay VIA gift cards and the program not operating during the winter months, both of which would require additional support.
Hearthway President and CEO Eileen Peltier motioned for the letter of support that can be used for grant opportunities, explaining, "It just sort of hits the mark in so many different ways."
Tags: community service, Downtown Pittsfield, shelter,
