Pittsfield's Homeless Advisory Committee hosting Housing Resource Fair

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The City of Pittsfield's Homeless Advisory Committee is sponsoring a Housing Resource Fair. 
 
The fair will be held at Berkshire Dream Center, 475 Tyler Street on Thursday, Oct. 9, between 10:00 a.m. to noon. The fair will offer a variety of resources and assistance to those in the community who are seeking help with accessing stable and secure housing.
 
The event is free and open to the public. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet with representatives from local housing organizations and agencies, learn about affordable housing options, and receive information on resources for rental assistance. Participating agencies include ServiceNet, Upside 413 (formerly Berkshire County Regional Housing), Second Street Second Chances, Elder Services, The Christian Center, ADLIB, Hearthway (formerly Berkshire Housing), Solider On, Nonotuck and the Pittsfield Housing Authority.
 
"The purpose of the fair is to bring together community organizations and the residents they serve to create meaningful community connections and provide support for those in need," said Kim Borden, chairperson of the city's Homeless Advisory Committee. "We are building upon the success of previous housing resource fairs that are held on a quarterly basis at various locations throughout the city."
 
For more information about the event, please contact Justine Dodds at (413) 499-9368 or by email to jdodds@cityofpittsfield.org.
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Dalton Police Facility Report Complete; Station Future Still Uncertain

By Sabrina DammsiBerkshires Staff
DALTON, Mass. — The Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee's final report is complete but the future of the station remains uncertain. 
 
Several members of the committee attended the Select Board meeting last week, as co-Chair Craig Wilbur presented four options delineated in the presentation — build on town-owned land, build on private land, renovate or repurpose the existing buildings, and do nothing. The full report can be found here
 
According to the report, addressing the station's needs coincides with the town facing significant financial challenges, with rising fixed costs and declining state aid straining its budget. 
 
These financial pressures restrict the town's ability to fund major capital projects and a new police station has to compete with a backlog of deferred infrastructure needs like water, sewer, roads, and Americans with Disabilities Act compliance.
 
In June 2024, Police Chief Deanna Strout informed the board of the station's dire condition — including issues with plumbing, mold, ventilation, mice, water damage, heating, and damaged cells — prompting the board to take action on two fronts. 
 
The board set aside American Rescue Plan Act funds to address the immediately dire issues, including the ventilation, and established the Public Safety Facility Advisory Committee to navigate long-term options
 
Very early on it was determined that the current facility is not adequate enough to meet the needs of a 21st-century Police Facility. This determination was backed up following a space needs assessment by Jacunski Humes Architects LLC
 
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