PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The city is hosting 37 migrant families as part of the state's Emergency Assistance shelter program, providing wraparound services and resources to meet their needs.

On Tuesday, Mayor Linda Tyer provided an update on the program to the City Council as requested by Councilor at Large Karen Kalinowsky and Ward 2 Councilor Charles Kronick.

"There are no costs incurred by the city of Pittsfield for this program. The accommodations are paid for by the state and all of the food is paid for by the state," Tyer clarified.

"We have had some city staff who have done a few things as part of the welcoming and settling-in process but those are part of our normal day-to-day functions as an organization. Any children that are enrolled in our schools who come through the Emergency Assistance shelter program, the community will receive $104 a day per student for reimbursement."

Massachusetts is a right to shelter state meaning that families and pregnant women are entitled to shelter regardless of their citizenship status, she added. Under the EA program, only one member of the family has to be of eligible citizen or immigration status to qualify.

New arrivals have settled into communities across the state, including Pittsfield and Great Barrington, as part of the state's effort to house the influx of migrant families.

"In terms of how the shelter is operated here in Pittsfield and other places around the state, the National Guard provides the day-to-day operations and functioning of the facility. They do not provide security," Tyer explained.

"And here in the city of Pittsfield, I assigned [Health Director Andy Cambi] to serve as the liaison because this program is managed by the Massachusetts Office of Executive Health and Human Services and so as the director of public health, it would be his role to be the liaison between the state and the city."

The city has received a total of 37 families, which include 23 adults and 14 children. They are being assisted by the regional housing authority in finding roofs to put over their heads and employment resources are being provided as well.

Kronick asked why the state came to the two Berkshire County communities, citing Pittsfield's housing shortage.

"This is a statewide program and Pittsfield and Great Barrington aren't the only two communities that have been selected. There are communities all across the commonwealth that have been chosen and the way that the state runs the program is that they interact on a one-on-one individual basis with the hotels that have been procured and so that transaction occurs between the state and the owner of the hotel and so if an owner of a hotel makes a portion of their facility available then the state will contract with that hotel and the rooms will be made available for the migrants," Tyer said.

"I would like to say that we were chosen because we're a welcoming community and because we have a great set of partners in our nonprofit community partners that can provide all kinds of care for people in all kinds of situations but the state doesn't operate that way. It is simply finding the space available in any community in the commonwealth."

Kronick said Pittsfield has a demographic problem and is not welcoming to the poor, adding that he does not object to the service but feels that the city took the brunt of the influx.

Kalinowsky also expressed concerns with the city's response to homelessness, claiming that local seniors have trouble receiving aid.

"Because it's a complex issue, I don't think it's a reason for us not to accept people in our community," Ward 5 Councilor Patrick Kavey said.

He also pointed to the $8.6 million in American Rescue Plan Act funds that were allocated for housing initiatives last year including $354,500 for the Fenn Street Emergency Shelter, $6.5 million for Pittsfield Permanent Supportive Housing and Housing Resource Center, and $750,000 for White Terrace Apartments.

"There is a variety of housing initiatives that are underway to address all kinds of housing needs here in the city of Pittsfield," Tyer said.

"There is a housing crisis, no doubt, but Pittsfield is not in the worst situation. It's not the worst in comparison to the rest of the county but the whole commonwealth of Massachusetts is experiencing a housing crisis and one of the primary objectives of the governor and lieutenant governor is to support communities and they have put together a significant capital investment plan to build housing all across this commonwealth."

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