Berkshire Organizations Share in Findings From Western Mass Housing Study

10:51AM / Monday, October 20, 2025Print Story | Email Story

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Hearthway, and Upside413 are partnering with Way Finders and their research partner, the UMass Donahue Institute, to share in-depth findings from "Building Homes. Building Futures."

This first-ever housing study will cover Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties at an event on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Berkshire Community College's Boland Theater.

According to the study, Berkshire County needs nearly 2,000 new housing units to meet current demand. Even with projected declines in population locally, the gap will still be nearly 1,000 units by 2035. Even more may be needed to stem population loss. The report, along with its online interactive data dashboards, provides western Massachusetts communities with information to address this crisis.

Event details:

5:00 p.m. Check-in

5:30 p.m. Welcome and Introductions by Tom Matusko

5:40 p.m. Presentation by Michael McNally, Senior Research Analyst at UMass Donahue Institute

6:20 p.m. Q&A period followed by strategy development

7:00 p.m. Closing

Tags: BRPC,

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The First's Housing Resource Center Opens in Pittsfield

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:17AM / Thursday, February 05, 2026

Tenants for the nine studio apartments will be moving in over the next few days.

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The First's housing resource center opened its doors on Tuesday, drawing about a dozen people.

"I was hoping to do a soft open yesterday at The First. It became a little louder, which is fine," ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush told the Homelessness Advisory Committee on Wednesday.

"But we are open Tuesday through Saturday for the next few weeks, and that is really due to just onboarding staff and training."

The housing resource center is funded by Pittsfield's American Rescue Plan Act dollars in the basement of the Zion Lutheran Church, and there are nine permanent supportive studios at the rear of the building. On its opening day on Tuesday, Forbush estimated between 10 and 12 people utilized the resource center. There were about 15 people waiting to come in on Wednesday morning.

A ribbon was cut on the facility on Dec. 18. The other component of the project is 28 units on West Housatonic Street, which are scheduled to be completed this month.

The First's opening was announced on Facebook by Mayor Peter Marchetti, writing that it wouldn't have been possible without the city's ARPA funds, committed in 2022, and all of the partners who stepped up.

"It is my hope that this is a model that we can successfully replicate to provide more support for individuals and families in need," he wrote.

Located at 74 First St., the resource center will be open Tuesday through Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Available to community members are public restrooms and showers, a quiet room, warmth, and staff to connect them with resources. Laundry machines and lockers are upcoming.