Serving the Homeless and the Unemployed
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By Paul Deslauriers
conomic emergencies are on the rise and social services are being cut. Collaboration among the faith community, health and human service organizations, educational institutions, and concerned citizens is providing a viable grassroots response to a real need in Berkshire County. In January 2011 there were 3,666 Pittsfield residents receiving unemployment benefits and nearly 6,000 county wide. These numbers do not include those who are no longer eligible for these benefits. In 2010 there were an estimated 274 people in Berkshire County who were homeless. A significant percentage of homeless people couch-hop, and there are also cases of three families living in a one-family dwelling who are not part of these statistics. This winter, 21 health and human service organizations and churches in central Berkshire County identified the need for a day center with specific programs for homeless and unemployed persons and for an eventual back-up emergency overnight shelter. We have begun by opening the Day Center two days a week but have the potential to expand, based on community support.
Location: The First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn and Pearl Street, Pittsfield, MA 01201 − in the center of downtown Pittsfield near many social service agencies making it convenient to access. Please use the Pearl Street entrance. Services: Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30am to 2:30pm,
and the Harvest Table meal on Tuesday at 5pm. All services are free and offered in a warm and friendly environment of acceptance and welcome. • Connection: Land mail, email, internet access, phone messages, and phone use and also a central place to connect with community members. • Direction and support: Guidance for service requests using existing health and human services. Our team has made a new directory for Berkshire County.
• Comfort: Warm drinks, healthy snacks, comfortable spaces, bathrooms, showers. • Learning: Programs for self-improvement are offered by several groups. Client participation helps maintain the Center. • Job development: Training in computer use, vocational training, and support for entrepreneurial ventures. Participants gain useful work experience and skills, giving to the community, while developing their resume.
Work Force: Members of Work Force show their ability to be a competent day laborer through 14 hours of volunteer work for Habitat for Humanity, or the Day Center projects. They also receive feedback on every job through a self-addressed envelope provided to each client. They have formed a group of independent contractors who make all financial arrangements with their clients and future appointments. The Day Center is not liable for Work Force and serves only as an answering service. Call if you need help moving, yard work, cleaning . . . If you have spikes in business, Work Force can fill your needs. An Invitation to Participate: If you would like to volunteer, participate, or make a contribution, call the Day Center at (413) 445-4445. Co-Act is the project developer, a nonprofit 501(c)(3), www.co-act.org. ~ Paul Deslauriers has over 23 years of experience as a community organizer, management coach, and organizational development consultant. Presently, Paul is the Executive Director of Community Organizing for Action (Co-Act), which is involved with job development, homelessness, ending hunger and malnutrition, transportation access, and local energy production. His most recent book Grassroute Guide: a Roadmap to Community Empowerment, lays out insightful principles of community organizing, in a practical and applicable format.
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June 2011
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Nonprofit Organizations
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potlight on Nonprofit Alternative Energy rganizations in Our Community