On Thanksgiving Day, the Springfield Republican published a Viewpoint piece I wrote (with help from Pamela Schwartz) about our regional network and the Housing First approach to ending homelessness. This was part of our recent regional media campaign, which resulted in Op Eds in The Berkshire Eagle, The Daily Hampshire Gazette, and The Greenfield Recorder, as well as the Republican’s Thanksgiving story on a formerly homeless families assisted with rapid rehousing services and funds.
The Viewpoint article didn’t appear on MassLive, but click here for a PDF version. Here’s a bit:
We know these emerging strategies for reducing homelessness can work. Regionally, agencies are now helping to move chronically homeless individuals into supportive housing in their own communities, replicating Springfield’s approach. With Network support, new Housing First initiatives are under way in Westfield, Amherst, Northampton, Greenfield and Pittsfield. We are also on our way to finding out just what it means to best meet the challenge of family homelessness. We trust that by this time next year, more families will have a Thanksgiving table to call their own. They deserve nothing less.
