Thrilling news for our region: after ongoing advocacy by our Network partners and Western MA legislative delegation, and thanks to the leadership and commitment of our Western MA Department of Mental Health (DMH), a new Safe Havens program has been funded!
DMH announced its award last week to Clinical Support Options (CSO). It will open a new Safe Havens program in Greenfield. This 24/7 fully supported shelter will provide 7 new beds for our most long-term chronically homeless individuals residing in Franklin or Hampshire Counties. CSO hopes to open its doors by early-mid February.
We know this expanded program is just the start of meeting the need for this shelter model across our region (up until now the region has had only 1 Safe Havens program with 7 beds in Westfield). But this expansion is a great start! And we look forward to continuing the push together for more.
Deepest thanks to our state legislators and to DMH leaders for making this possible.
