Pittsfield CDBG Applications Exceeding Funding

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city has 24 applicants for human services funding, and last year's awardees stretched their dollars as far as they could. 

The Human Services Advisory Council recently outlined its process for allocating Community Development Block Grants, which are funded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Last year, 23 city programs received a total of $206,250 from Pittsfield's general fund and the CDBG Program. 

Nate Joyner, Pittsfield's community development and housing program manager, reported that beneficiaries nearly doubled their impact with the last cycle of awards. 

"In last year's program, under the CDBG program, there were 556 proposed beneficiaries across all the different programs," he said during the virtual meeting. 

"That was what they expected to serve with the funding we allocated, and the actual beneficiaries were 993, so we see these agencies kind of stretching the dollars, serving a lot of folks, and it kind of shows there's high demand for the services being offered." 

A public comment period for community members to communicate support for agencies or applications, or for broader needs within the city. Comments can be sent to the Pittsfield Community Development Office or to njoyner@cityofpittsfield.org. 

The federal CDBG program supports community development activities that build strength and resilience. The Human Services Advisory Council, after presentations from applicants, provides the mayor with recommendations on how Pittsfield should allocate its human services dollars. 

Demonstrators Demand Home Depot Condemn ICE Activity

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
05:33PM / Thursday, February 19, 2026

A counter-demonstrator showed up with megaphone and a T-shirt that read 'Don't Attack, Don't Resist, Don't Get Shot.' 

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Community members want Home Depot's leadership to take a stand against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement raids around their stores.

On Monday, Presidents Day, dozens of people approached the big-box chain in Berkshire Crossing with "ICE out" signs, chanting "Love not hate makes America great." They took a lap through the aisles and bought symbolic items such as ice scrapers, which they would later return.

Bob Van Olst, of Indivisible Berkshires, said Home Depot's corporate policy has been "very complicit" with masked border patrol agents. Activists say the company removed diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives from its website last year, and that ICE agents have been arresting tradespeople without due process in Home Depot parking lots.

"We understand that over 70 percent of these people have no criminal records, have no gang affiliation. They're just hard-working members of the community trying to make a living, being scooped up and sent off to who knows where," Van Olst said.

"So we're asking Home Depot to cease their cooperation with ICE."

Robin O'Herin, of Stand Up Berkshires, said that to protect immigrant employees, workplaces need "employees only" signs for restricted areas so that ICE can't enter.

"They have none of that. They refuse to put them up," she said. "… and their parking lot is private, and they are happy that Home Depots all over the country plan staging to grab hard-working people and disappear them from Home Depot parking lots."

ICE has focused on the home improvement stores because day laborers often gather there to pick up work, particularly in southern or western states. Home Depot has stated it does not cooperate with ICE, but also cannot prohibit federal officers from entering its stores and parking lots. 

Van Olst can hardly believe that, at 78, he is still protesting against the infringement of civil rights.