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The shelter at First Methodist Church is expected to open this month after several years of planning.

Pittsfield's 'Pearl Street Shelter' Opening Soon

By Brittany PolitoiBerkshires Staff
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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — The shelter at First Methodist Church is soon to open with a straightforward name that has a deeper meaning.

ServiceNet's Director of Shelter and Housing Erin Forbush told the Homelessness Advisory Committee last week that the new facility is planned to open around the end of the month as the Pearl Street Shelter.

When people get to know the shelter and its staff, the hope is that it is referred to as "The Pearl."

Because the entrance to the shelter is on Pearl Street, the name was proposed to eliminate confusion because the building's frontage is on Fenn Street.  There is also a sentimental interpretation.  

"I would like to call it the Pearl because a pearl is a treasure," Forbush said. "And I'm hoping that everybody that stays there is able to kind of find their own treasure in themselves when they do leave and hopefully that is leaving to housing."

She added that pearls are created in an oyster with an irritant, explaining that she is affectionately calling herself the irritant that will hopefully create the pearls.

"We are hoping to create a really nice community there," Forbush said. "We will be a 40-bed, year-round shelter at that location."

ServiceNet will manage the shelter and hopes to be in by the end of the month.  The furniture is expected to be delivered next week and there are a couple of construction projects left.



There have been suggestions about creating a mural that coincides with the name.

"Hopefully in the next few weeks we will be in our new location," Forbush said. "We will say thank you and goodbye to St. Joe's and be in our next chapter as we work to help every out in the community."

The 6,000-square-foot emergency shelter has been in the planning process since 2020 when its location was approved. It will replace the shelter at the former St. Joseph's High School that opened soon after the pandemic began.

Last year, $354,500 of American Rescue Plan Act funds were allocated for the shelter. It is also supported by a $200,000 earmark from the state and a $200,000 contribution from the city through Community Development Block Grants.

"I know that everyone in this panel supports all the efforts that ServiceNet has taken and all the hoops that you've gone through so we're very appreciative," committee Chair Kim Borden said.

The committee hosted a second Housing Resource Fair on Thursday, this time at Persip Park. It featured representatives from local housing organizations and agencies.


Tags: emergency shelter,   homeless,   

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Letter: Is the Select Board Listening to Dalton Voters?

Letter to the Editor

To the Editor:

A reasonable expectation by the people of a community is that their Select Board rises above personal preference and represents the collective interests of the community. On Tuesday night [Nov. 12], what occurred is reason for concern that might not be true in Dalton.

This all began when a Select Board member submitted his resignation effective Oct. 1 to the Town Clerk. Wishing to fill the vacated Select Board seat, in good faith I followed the state law, prepared a petition, and collected the required 200-plus signatures of which the Town Clerk certified 223. The Town Manager, who already had a copy of the Select Board member's resignation, was notified of the certified petitions the following day. All required steps had been completed.

Or had they? At the Oct. 9 Select Board meeting when Board members discussed the submitted petition, there was no mention about how they were informed of the petition or that they had not seen the resignation letter. Then a month later at the Nov. 12 Select Board meeting we learn that providing the resignation letter and certified petitions to the Town Manager was insufficient. However, by informing the Town Manager back in October the Select Board had been informed. Thus, the contentions raised at the Nov. 12 meeting by John Boyle seem like a thinly veiled attempt to delay a decision until the end of January deadline to have a special election has passed.

If this is happening with the Special Election, can we realistically hope that the present Board will listen to the call by residents to halt the rapid increases in spending and our taxes that have been occurring the last few years and pass a level-funded budget for next year, or to not harness the taxpayers in town with the majority of the cost for a new police station? I am sure these issues are of concern to many in town. However, to make a change many people need to speak up.

Please reach out to a Select Board member and let them know you are concerned and want the Special Election issue addressed and finalized at their Nov. 25 meeting.

Robert E.W. Collins
Dalton, Mass.

 

 

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