Grants to boost beds, services for homeless during winter months

A volunteer at Craig’s Doors wipes down a cot. The Amherst organization has landed a state grant that will allow it to expand the number of homeless people it serves at the Econo Lodge in Hadley. Clinical and Support Options also received a grant for expansion of its services  in the region.

A volunteer at Craig’s Doors wipes down a cot. The Amherst organization has landed a state grant that will allow it to expand the number of homeless people it serves at the Econo Lodge in Hadley. Clinical and Support Options also received a grant for expansion of its services in the region. Gazette file photo

By ALEXANDER MACDOUGALL

Staff Writer

Published: 12-24-2024 1:13 PM

Two Hampshire County organizations that provide support for individuals struggling with homelessness during the cold winter months are receiving a combined $1.25 million from the state to expand services.

The recipients, Craig’s Doors of Amherst and Clinical Support Options, with offices in Northampton, Greenfield and Springfield, intend to use the money from the state’s Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities to add more than 30 additional beds to its sites this winter, among other benefits. The organizations were among 15 across the commonwealth that received grant funding from the EOHLC.

Jane Banks, vice president of housing and homeless services at CSO, said the nonprofit will use the $1 million in additional funds to add more than 22 beds, hire more staff and increase its food budget, enabling the organization to serve more than 175 people across the three counties of Hampshire, Franklin and Hampden. CSO also plans to expand daytime warming capacity for up to 100 individuals.

Banks said that in Greenfield, the funding will help the city’s shelter maintain its five extra beds and keep its winter warming center open during the day this season.

“We’ll be providing three meals a day for people, because we are doing the warming center in Greenfield as part of this increased funding, we and we’ve got those five additional beds,” Banks said. “Last year, we didn’t have a lot of need for [the warming center] and it was also just for overnight. So this year is different, because we’ve got the day center open, so people who maybe need to come in out of the cold during the day, get a hot meal, connect with case management services or nursing.”

The $1 million grant is separate from CSO’s planned opening of a new shelter in the Northampton Industrial Park. A ribbon-cutting ceremony to mark that open is scheduled for Thursday.

“If you have medical needs, there will be nursing staff on hand to help,” Banks said. “If you need to get off drugs, there will be suboxone that can be provided.”

Banks also said that even if CSO reaches its expanded capacity during the winter months, transportation services will be provided to other organizations supporting those struggling with homelessness, such as Craig’s Doors.

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At Craig’s Doors, Director Tim McCarthy said that the $213,000 from the EOHLC will help provide additional staffing for its shelter at the former Econo Lodge at 329 Russell St. in Hadley.

“We had been operating just on the first floor because of the staffing balance,” McCarthy said. “Staffing ratios are really critical, and from a budgetary perspective we’ve been able to accommodate 38 folks over there. With these additional dollars, we’ll be able to provide 24/7 to an additional 20.”

McCarthy said that Craig’s Doors is actively recruiting for additional staffing positions.

With the expansion, Craig’s Doors expects to be able to offer a combined 86 beds at its Amherst location at the Emmanuel Lutheran Church, the Econo Lodge and individual homes, McCarthy said.

“Two years ago, we were a seasonal overnight shelter helping individuals just during the winter with very limited case management,” McCarthy said. “We now operate 24/7, 365 days a year, supporting 60 people throughout the year and having those numbers increase during the winter.”

Other recipients of the EOHLC funding include the Center for Human Development in Hol yoke, which received $81,737 that will provide 10 additional winter beds, and Louison House in North Adams, which received $102,714 for 12 additional beds.

“Our nonprofit community partners provide a lifeline to individuals who are struggling with the very basic need of a safe place to lay their head at night,” said EOHLC Secretary Ed Augustus in a statement. “These organizations are well-equipped to connect individuals with other important services ranging from behavioral health to the search for permanent housing.”

Alexander MacDougall can be reached at amacdougall@gazettenet.com.

Greenfield Recorder Staff Writer Anthony Cammalleri cotnributed to this report.