At last, a major institution in America is standing up to the bullying and extortion that seems to characterize every action of the Trump administration.
Both housing trusts are allocating funds received from the local Community Preservation Act surcharge and granted to the trust in previous annual town meetings.
Participants will spend two to four afternoons per week working hands-on in the work world, on construction sites and working farms, earning both class credit and stipends, and learning skills in virtual and physical 'makerspaces.'
Jonathan and Fatima’s success story today — car parked outside and apartment whose rent they pay on time and which comfortably houses a growing family — was made possible by the very hard work, and very long hours, of many people, coordinating their assistance among many local social service organizations.
“When I hear about 500 people on a waiting list to get housing that’s affordable, I think we all have a community obligation to step forward and solve this problem.” -- Rep. William “Smitty” Pignatelli, D-Lenox.
"Recreational cannabis means that we are talking about cannabis. That’s a good thing. Young people are asking unsolicited questions, neighbors are talking to each other. ... We developed norms ... We’re starting to talk about what does safe use look like for adults? What is the norm?" --Chris Tucci, Railroad Street Youth Project deputy director
For 50 years, Construct has remained a steady force in South County, providing folks assistance with affordable housing, housing stability, emergency financial assistance and transitional housing.
The services offered range from crisis intervention and economic stabilization to mobility monitoring, housing counseling, adult education, referrals and collaborative services.
There will be two articles on the special town meeting warrant related to the affordable housing plan: one that would "create low and moderate income housing to be located on town property at 175 Egremont Plain Road"; and another that appropriates $640,000 for construction.
According to the 2015 United States census, 25.1 percent of Great Barrington’s residents are considered low-income and 8.4 percent of town residents are actually living in poverty. Neighboring towns such as Stockbridge and Lenox have even higher rates.
In terms of housing, there are still miles to go and promises to keep if Great Barrington is to meet the state goal of 10 percent of its housing classified as affordable.
