Yesterday, Springfield Mayor Domenic J. Sarno announced new funding that will put the city one step closer to its goal of ending long-term homelessness. With an investment from the Citizens Bank Foundation, MHSA has pledged $50,000 to the Mental Health Association’s Regional Engagement and Assessment for the Chronic Homeless (REACH) II program, which provides housing and intensive support services for chronically homeless individuals.

“This new funding to support chronically homeless individuals in permanent housing is an incredible testament by Citizens Bank about their belief in the power of permanent supportive housing to end homelessness and reduce costs at the same time,” Mayor Sarno said. “We are grateful that Citizens, led by President Jerry Sargent, is the first corporate partner in this innovative initiative.”

Springfield is one of two cities in the Commonwealth to receive funding; the Citizens Bank Foundation awarded MHSA a $100,000 grant to target chronic homelessness in both Boston and Springfield. A press conference was held in Boston on March 1 to announce that funding.

The funding from Citizens will support tenants in the Mental Health Association’s (MHA) REACH II Housing First program. REACH II is an expansion of the original REACH Housing First pilot, which provides chronically homeless individuals with permanent housing, intensive case management services, and links to substance abuse, mental health, and other services.

“We are pleased to join Mayor Sarno, the Mental Health Association and the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance in their coordinated efforts to reduce homelessness in Springfield,” said Jerry Sargent, president of Citizens Bank in Massachusetts. “This is an innovative model, providing much-needed support to a very vulnerable population, while also relieving some of the costs associated with care for these individuals. It’s a win-win.”

The press in Springfield turned out in force to cover the event. Visit the below links to listen to radio coverage, read articles and view news clips.

WAMC: Support announced for program targeting chronic homelessness

Springfield Republican:  Citizens Bank donates $50,000 to help combat homelessness in Springfield

CBS 3:  Springfield\’s quest to end homelessness

WWLP, Channel 22: Partnership brings funds for homelessness

NOTICE OF REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS

Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) and Housing Opportunities for Persons with Aids (HOPWA) Programs

 PROGRAM YEAR:  July 1, 2011-JUNE 30, 2012

 The City of Springfield Office of Community Development and Office of Housing is seeking proposals for inclusion in its 2011-2012 Action Plan.

RFP’s will be available beginning Tuesday, February 1, 2011 through Tuesday, March 1, 2011 at the Office of Community Development, 36 Court Street, Room 101 from 8:30 am-4:00 pm.  The deadline for proposal submission is no later than 12:00 pm on Tuesday, March 1, 2011.  The deadline is firm.

A bidders conference will be held for the Emergency Solutions Grant program on February 17, 2011, at 10 am at the Office of Housing, 1600 E. Columbus Ave., Springfield.

The City of Springfield is an Equal Opportunity Employer

invites you to join our honored guests at the

Grand Opening of the

YWCA Supportive Housing Project

Friday, September 24, 2010

10:30 am

YWCA of Western Massachusetts

One Clough Street, Springfield

RSVP to 413-755-3102 or lml@ywworks.org

The Springfield CoC received three new grants:

• Martin Luther King Family Services, $274,276, Permanent Supportive Housing for 8 families (2 year grant, renewable)
• River Valley Counseling Center, $304,920, Permanent Supportive Housing for 7 individuals with HIV/AIDS (5 year grant, renewable)
• South Middlesex Opportunity Council, Permanent Supportive Housing for 8 individuals, of which 4 will have been chronically homeless (2 year grant, renewable)

The Berkshire CoC received one new grant:

• Construct, Inc/Project REACH, Great Barrington, $47,943

These grants will increase our stock of permanent supportive housing, one of our major strategies for reducing homelessness.  Good news for our Network!

As part of the conversation, we undertook an initial exploration of what it might mean for the CoCs in our region to merge at some point in the future.  We all acknowledged that this is just the beginning of a complex conversation and analysis.  Coordinators for the three Western Mass CoCs will have an initial meeting on this issue in early June.

The City of Springfield had rising numbers of homeless individuals in 2005-2006.  In 2007, the City strongly committed to a Housing First approach.  Since that time, the City has housed over 100 chronically homeless individuals.  The graph below shows the City’s progress: as the number of permanent supportive housing units increased, the homeless population decreased–including the homeless street population.

The fact that homelessness among individuals in Springfield decreased, even in an economic downturn, is strong evidence that individual homelessness is less a result of the economy than it is the result of our housing policies–and particularly our approach to housing people with mental illness and/or chronic substance abuse.

Also covered last week: the results of Springfield’s January 2010 point-in-time count, which verified the increase in family homelessness, but showed a slight decrease in homelessness among individuals without children.

A minimum of $430,492 is available to fund new programs.  New programs with significant housing focus are encouraged to apply.  In addition, the City seeks applicants to apply for the Permanent Housing Bonus, which is $211,908, and is used to fund permanent supportive housing.

The application deadline is October 26, 3:00 pm.  Applications must be submitted electronically to the City in HUD’s esnaps system–see the RFP for details.

Congratulations to the Center for Human Development (Springfield) and ServiceNet (Northampton), both of which received grants.