People experiencing homelessness are a diverse and underserved population. They are people our society has failed on multiple levels. Often they have simply fallen through the holes of a tenuous safety net. It is our moral obligation as a compassionate community—no matter how messy the presenting problems are—to provide emergency shelter, a pathway to permanent housing, and advocacy to guide individuals—who often are not in a place to help themselves—toward the services and skills that will offer opportunities and empowerment.

The First United Methodist Church of Pittsfield has submitted to the Pittsfield City Planning Board a design for a new emergency shelter for people experiencing homelessness. This accessible facility will transform former classrooms at the church into renovated spaces for men, women, and families in transition, and will serve between 20-40 people depending on the season. The entrance will be on Pearl Street, which is off of Fenn Street. ServiceNet, a non-profit human service agency contracted with the city, will provide programming. The church is seeking specific zoning waivers to allow commencement of the renovation.

Sign this petition and let the Pittsfield Community Development Board know you want them to approve this shelter plan at their next meeting on August 18, 2020!

We support this shelter because:
• Housing is a fundamental human right.

• A homeless population that is well served, and has access to services, is less likely to pose safety and health concerns.

• Shelters decrease the likelihood of individuals living outdoors which poses many communal and personal safety and health challenges.

• Emergency shelters best serve people in need when they are sited in central locations. This “ease of access” allows for more consistent use of support services by eliminating the need for transportation. Lack of transportation is a major barrier to accessing services and employment. When people have access to help they are empowered to take advantage of it and less likely to fall through the cracks.

• Some of the many agencies that provide these services are within blocks of the proposed site, including: Pittsfield City Hall, the RMV, and Social Security offices (identification is essential for housing assistance); Advocacy for Access (health insurance access); Berkshire Works (job assistance and resume writing); the Berkshire Athenaeum (computers, printers, telephone); RLC (Recovery Learning Community— learning opportunities, advocacy, peer-to-peer support); Berkshire County Regional Housing Authority (BCRHA); faith-based organizations for meals, meetings, positive social interaction, and support; Urgent Care and the BMC/ER; The Brien Center and other mental health, addiction, and health programs; the courts and the police station.

• ServiceNet has decades of experience in Western Massachusetts providing essential services to individuals and families who are, at risk of, or have previously been homeless. Their staff is professionally trained to do this work, including helping clients secure permanent housing, employment, and mental health services. They run multiple shelters, including those in downtown Northampton and Greenfield.

• The shelter will provide caring, dignified, and safe spaces for those experiencing housing instability. Guests will sign an agreement of expectations regarding safety and respect for others, and personal responsibility for following shelter rules.

• Given the public health crisis of Covid-19, the shelter is important both to the health and safety of individuals experiencing homelessness and the Berkshire community of which they are a part. We are in this together.

• Winter is coming.

We believe any concerns about this shelter can be solved in collaborative manner, and that there is no reasonable argument that cannot be addressed.

The very real post-pandemic promise of Pittsfield cannot be realized unless every member of our diverse, vital community is recognized, supported, and included in our efforts to ensure that moving forward Pittsfield prospers.

For the reasons above, the undersigned urge the Pittsfield City Planning Board to approve the requested waivers and facility designs as submitted by Reverend Ralph Howe, First United Methodist Church of Pittsfield.

—written by Pittsfield residents Nan Bookless, Anne Jones, Kathy Davidson Austin, Virginia (Ginny) O'Leary, Drew Herzig, and Kate Lauzon