Meeting Agenda for Tuesday, January 4

Day Center and Temporary Shelter for the Homeless

6:30 PM Pot Luck   – 9:30 PM

52 Maple Hill, West Stockbridge, MA

Directions:  Take Rt. 102  through the center of West Stockbridge toward NY.

Where Rt. 102 and 41 split, turn left; continue on 102 for one mile.  Turn left on Maple Hill and proceed up for 1.2 miles. # 52 Maple Hill Rd. Driveway on right.

Phone: 413-232-7888   Bring along a friend!

Driveway use for vehicles with good snow tires; otherwise, park on road (house side).

Jan. 4 Day Center for the Homeless and Unemployed

Join us in developing the first day center in Berkshire County at the First United Methodist

Church. Below you will find meeting notes with health and human service organizations, church leaders and government officials to make this happen by the end of January.

Jan. 7 Community Coalition Meeting @ 10 AM to Noon

Join us in addressing long standing need of the homeless and unemployed as we develop programs for a Day Center in Pittsfield at the First United Methodist Church at 55 Fenn St.

Every Tuesday: Co-Act Meeting at 6:30 PM Pot Luck, Meeting 7:30 PM 52 Maple Hill Rd., West Stockbridge, MA.  Reminder:  Email your agenda suggestions for topics or presenters you would like to see added to our agenda.  Participate in making our meetings meaningful, engaging and fun.

Pilot ProgramHomeless and Unemployed Day Center and Temporary Shelter

Notes from 12/17 Meeting

Next Meeting 1/7, 10 AM to Noon

First United Methodist Church, 55 Fenn St., Pittsfield MA

We are grateful to the congregation of the First United Methodist Church in Pittsfield for opening their doors to explore this pilot program and their generous and caring spirit. Our community has been given this opportunity to address a significant need in Berkshire County and for collaboration among the faith-based community, non-profit organizations, and local government.

Project Scope: To have a Pilot Program beginning at the end of January and continuing through May 1^st. The Program will include a temporary shelter for able-bodied people for both populations being served, the chronic homeless and the short-term homeless. We will further explore having a day center for the homeless that will include professional programs and support. In addition, this day center will serve the unemployed and under-employed, where they can receive on-going support through mechanisms like

inspirational movies and development of useful skills. The temporary shelter will provide a safety net for our most vulnerable population.

Staffing and Programs:  Health and Human Service organizations that serve our target populations are encouraged to participate. The Center will provide a supportive environment for case workers and for other programs, to serve these populations concentrated at the Center. The faith-based community also may provide significant staffing support. As an example, local meal sites affiliated with the Food Net are presently providing over 1,200 hours a week addressing the food security needs of these vulnerable populations.

We will form a committee that will meet on January 7^th at the First United Methodist Church to discuss staffing, programs, and schedules. For the high-risk populations, we need one qualified staff person per six people served. For low-risk individuals, the ratio is one to twelve.

Schedule for this Initiative:

• December:  Wiring plans for detectors and cameras, as well as plans for building construction.
• January 7^th:  Committee meeting for staffing and programs.
• January 10^th: Complete floor plans and begin construction and wiring.
• January 20^th:  Building ready for final safety inspection.
• January 21^st: Committee meeting at First United 10 AM to Noon, to determine: final programs, schedule, and opening day.

Objectives:

• A Pilot Program to address the immediate needs of the homeless and unemployed from January to May 1.
• A Model of Collaboration between the Faith Community, Health and Human Services, and Government.
• Programs that are professionally administered and supportive for these populations of need.
• Assure a level of safety for staff, participants in the program, and the local community.