PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The Homelessness Prevention Commission met for the first time in months on Wednesday and endorsed a Fenn Street shelter approved later that day by the Community Development Board.

 

"We need a quick fix here," Chairman Ed Carmel said. "We know about winter, and it is not a good thing around here. Whether it is a light one or a heavy one, it is always freezing cold at some time."

 

Homelessness has come to the forefront in Pittsfield after the temporary homeless shelter at St. Joseph's School closed and its occupants set up camp in Springside Park and the weeks of discussion over the new shelter at First United Methodist Church.

 

At a Committee on Public Health and Safety meeting last month, councilors asked that the Homelessness Prevention Commission meet and add to the conversation.

 

Carmel first asked each member present to make a determination on the Fenn Street shelter.

 

Commissioners unanimously agreed that the shelter was needed and was in the right location, but they felt more work needed to be done in general to improve the homelessness issue in the city.

 

Commissioner Kim Borden felt beyond shelter, information and resources needed to be better dispersed to the homeless.

 

"We need to get this information out to folks about agencies that can be helpful," she said.

 

She said there is also a need for landlords in the community who are willing to "take a chance on folks" who may be homeless or who have been evicted in the past.

 

She encouraged any landlord that may consider housing someone in this situation to reach out to the commission or Berkshire County Regional Housing.   

 

Borden did add that this goes both ways, and possible tenants need to be housing ready.

 

Commissioner Maureen Tuggey also spoke to this but from a different perspective. With the state's moratorium on evictions, she said some tenants have knowingly violated their leases and may be in trouble with the moratorium ends. 

 

"We have people that over-collect and that violates their lease, and we have people who smoke in their apartment," she said. "There seems to be a false sense of security that due to the pandemic they will not be held accountable."

 

She said it was important to work with these individuals who may be on the brink of becoming homeless.

 

Commission member Katelynn Miner said there are still "barriers" related to shelters or permanent housing. 

 

"I know one family in particular that has a dog, and they are not going to leave that dog," she said. "So if a shelter says no pets they are not going to go into the shelter."

 

She said some of the homeless population just do not feel comfortable in the shelter.

 

Carmel agreed and said Barton's Crossing is in bad condition. 

 

"I have been in there, and it is a mess," he said. "I wouldn't let my best friend stay there."

 

She said she saw a benefit in working with landlords individually to find housing solutions.

 

It was noted that Barton's Crossing only allows residents in a few times a day. Also, they do not allow the use of substances. Some homeless prefer to live in the parks where they have no restrictions. (The Fenn Street shelter will replace Barton's Crossing.)

 

There was some talk about taking an overarching view of how different services work within the city.

 

Commissioner Zachari Durso asked that the committee looks at the current use of resources. He used the example of Barton's Crossing's annual budget of $280,000. 

 

"I really think that we need an evaluation of efficacy on how much we are spending on things already and how much it is actually helping," he said.

 

He said $280,000 could actually place a lot of people in homes or apartments.

 

Member Silvia Soria added that she thought it was important to help the homeless but was afraid to do too much for them.

 

"It is good to help, but if we are providing tents at the park we are promoting people coming," she said. "... For me that is not a solution; we need to work for them. Teach them to fish not give them fish." 

 

The conversation moved to the more immediate situation and commissioner and Police Officer Ryan Williams said it was his opinion that the Springside Park encampments cannot go on forever.

 

"We are seeing new faces that are not from around here," he said. "I guess word is getting out that this exists. They heard about the park, and they heard about St. Joe."

 

The former St. Joseph's High School was opened as a temporary shelter to handle overflow from Barton's Crossing during the pandemic. Barton's Crossing can only hold 10 beds to meet social distancing regulations. This shelter closed in July. 

 

Carmel said some of the homeless residents told him that a group of teenagers was burning tents and harassing park residents. 

 

Williams said he had not heard of this. 

 

Justine Dodds, from the Office of Community Development, chimed in and said even though the city is allowing the use of Springside Park, it is not a permanent solution. She said the city has supplied portable toilets and portable handwashing stations but are actively looking for additional locations to house the homeless come winter. 

 

"There are conversations going on, and there are places being worked on for the winter because we know this is an issue," she said. "We will need a shelter and additional spaces because the traditional places will not be able to accommodate like they have in the past."

 

In other business, Dodds asked for the commission's blessing to submit an ordinance to the City Council that would shore up the Homelessness Prevention Commission's structure and mission. 

 

"In order to really solidify the position of the committee, we are suggesting that we bring this before the City Council," she said. "... It keeps most things in place but it adds some structure."

 

She said the commission was set up with a "straight order" and does not have a clear mission or membership structure.