PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The holidays are here and several community members are celebrating it with the opening of two affordable housing initiatives. 

 

"This is a day to celebrate," Hearthway CEO Eileen Peltier said during the ribbon-cutting on Thursday. 

 

The celebration was for nearly 40 supportive permanent housing units; nine at "The First" located within the Zion Lutheran Church, and 28 on West Housatonic Street. A ceremony was held in the new Housing Resource Center on First Street, which was funded by the American Rescue Plan Act. 

 

The apartments will be leased out by Hearthway, with ServiceNet as a partner. 

 

Prior to the ribbon-cutting, public officials and community resource personnel were able to tour the two new permanent supported housing projects — West Housatonic Apartments and The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center. 

 

The First Street location has nine studio apartments that are about 300 square feet and has a large community center. The West Housatonic Street location will have 28 studio units that range between 300 to 350 square feet. All units can be adapted to be ADA accessible. 

 

The West Housatonic location is still under construction with the hope to have it completed by the middle of January, said Chris Wilett, Hearthway development associate.

 

It is not easy to do permanent supportive housing and all the people involved in the project got us here today by going above and beyond, Peltier said, naming several who had a hand in making the project come to fruition. 

 

"At Hearthway, we started using this term glimmer, like a glimmer of hope, because it's been a hard year for lots of reasons, and we kept identifying glimmers of hope … this is not a glimmer. This is bigger than a glimmer," she said. 

 

Tears and literal leaps of joy exuberated through the ribbon-cutting, speakers themed returning to the light. 

 

"Cultures all around the world are celebrating the return to life at this time of year, and that's what I feel like we are doing and celebrating today, as a community — returning to light and to hope," Peltier said. 

 

The people around the room are what a community looks like and today illuminates through all of the dark times we have recently faced, state Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

The community saw the great need five years ago and responded. That need continues to grow, she said.   

 

According to Jessica Sarno, Servicenet's director of operations for the shelter housing division, all apartments will cost 30 percent of the income of the resident. 

 

There is currently a waitlist of nearly 300 people, which is managed through Tri-County, Continuum of Care. Although there is a waitlist, there is an assessment to prioritize who needs the most help, she said. 

 

The First Street Apartments and Housing Resource Center was a collaboration between Hearthway, the Zion Lutheran Church, and Servicenet. 

 

Like the attendees, the Zion Lutheran Church took a leap into a project there "isn't a map for," Farley-Bouvier said. 

 

"It's really wonderful when an organization like this steps up and does something good for the city," a church choir member said. 

 

Farley-Bouvier said she has the deepest respect and admiration for the Zion Lutheran Church.   

 

"You inspire me. You have taken God's work into your own hands and you have made a commitment, you have given your literal space, you have given your treasure, and you have put faith in a project that there is not really a map for. That is what a leap of faith is," she said.  

 

"The problem of homelessness has only grown in this community but we are making a big dent right now." 

 

The need in the community is great which is why each building also has a community room for nonapartment residents, organizers said.

 

The community room at the First Street location serves as the resource center and is expansive with three couches, two lounges, a classroom, laundry room, bathroom, laundry room, and will soon have lockers. 

 

The work is not over. The organization also hopes to also in the future add a boutique and computer room at the First Street location, Peltier said.