Survival gear for 60 displaced Pittsfield persons

In early response to COVID-19,  the Western Massachusetts Recovery Learning Community (RLC) made a decision to not only not close, but to expand their Pittsfield center in support of people living on the streets, and/or who otherwise had no safe place to quarantine.
They made this difficult decision knowing that the impact of Coronavirus health mandates would reduce the accessibility of services offered by a number of other resources in the region.

Western Mass RLC has been operating in Berkshire, Hampshire, Hampden, & Franklin since 2007.
The RLC's Pittsfield Center has been located at its current spot at 361 North Street since 2019.
RLC is a 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible.
EIN 23-7450656
https://www.westernmassrlc.org/about-us 

Western Mass RLC has supported over 75 unhoused individuals to access much needed supplies like phones, tents, clothing, and more, as well as direct supports such as the opportunity to get warm and dry on rainy days and to fill out paperwork to access housing and other benefits.
This included individuals who were no longer allowed to use the local shelter, or for whom there simply was not space.
Many of the city's elderly and disabled community members who face food insecurity on a daily basis have also sought and received assistance at the center. 

While the situation should be improving as the city begins re-opening, another great loss was experienced by some of the city's most vulnerable citizens on Monday, July 13th with the sudden closure of the city shelter at Saint Joseph's school.

The shelter, run by ServiceNet and staffed by their employees and Soldier-On employees, had served the area's 80+ homeless community members.  Only 10 shelter beds now remain via Barton's Crossing.  (Although it originally offered 16 beds, adherence with COVID social-distancing rules required that the 16 year-round beds be reduced to 10.) 

This sudden closing of the 24 hour city-COVID shelter run by ServiceNet, with no advance warning to community-based agencies, sent waves of panic across the community of those living on the street who were displaced and left to vie for the remaining 10 beds. 

To best assist our area and those living without homes, and in light of the lack of any homelessness assistance by the city or any entities, Western Mass RLC needs monetary donations for the following survival gear for our Pittsfield homeless community members, to avoid further needless deaths of our homeless: 

* Tents
* Tarps
* Sleeping bags
* Blankets 
* Summer clothing 
* Socks
* Underwear
* Masks
* Hand Sanitizer
* Soap, Shampoo, and Personal Care items
* Laundry services (COVID shut down Laundry Love laundry service that were supplied by the local churches)
* Charlie cards ( bus transportation) to attend to medical needs.
* Cell phones for maintaining health services 
* Rain gear 
* Items to provide safety and basics needs 
* Emergency hotel vouchers for health reasons
* bicycles to ensure easier access to maintain health & safety 
* sunscreen
* bug spray 
*  Aloe Vera 
*  lights 

Thank you for your always continually support for our area homeless community members.

In lieu of donation through this GoFundME, direct donations can also be made to:

Western Mass RLC 
in care of Jean-Marie Laurin 
361 North Street 
Pittsfield, Ma. 02101
memo line: “Pittsfield homeless” 


In Solidarity,

Jean-Marie Laurin - Berkshire County Coordinator for Western Mass RLC

Anne Marie Jones- Pittsfield homeless advocate

Patrick Toole - local artist/activist



All donations will be managed through the Western Mass RLC organization utilizing their infrastructure, staff, and volunteers to distribute the above mentioned survival items.  

***Western Mass RLC is 501c3 non-profit organization and all donations are tax-deductible ( EIN 23-7450656 )

More information about Western Massachusetts Training Consortium (Western Massachusetts Training Consortium): The Consortium creates conditions in which people with lived experience pursue their dreams and strengthen our communities through full participation.  

We use the phrase lived experience because we believe: People have the right and ability to define themselves; People can discover their own paths to recovery; Life experience is a powerful teacher and guide. The Consortium program and supports currently include, but are not limited to, persons with lived experience of: Being labeled by others; Cognitive or physical limitations or disabilities; Mental health diagnosis and or extreme states; Significant health issues or challenges; Drug and alcohol addictions; The impact of trauma or abuse; Being a family member or primary supporter of a person with significant life stressors.


Jean-Marie Laurin
County Coordinator, Berkshire/Franklin Counties
413-652-4732

My pronouns are: she/her

http://www.westernmassrlc.org/