$25K grant to help Greenfield seniors address health code violations

GREENFIELD — With help from a $25,000 Community Development Block Grant, the Health Department will be able to provide additional support this year to a handful of low-income seniors who have limited means to address health code violations.

“I’m very, very excited about this grant,” Health Director Jennifer Hoffman said at a Board of Health meeting earlier this month.

Hoffman explained the grant, which was administered by the state Department of Housing and Urban Development, would come into play in cases where a complaint is made to the Health Department regarding poor management of a resident’s lawn or hoarding issues, for example. Specifically, it would connect seniors who lack transportation, friend or family support, or the financial means to address whatever the issue is to the necessary social services.

“We’ll be working with a social service agency on plans to assist people that need to have their house cleaned, or get rid of the trash, help them with their lawn,” Hoffman explained, providing examples. “It won’t be ongoing service, but it would be a big service.”

Ideally, the additional support would help make these individuals — as many as four or five in the upcoming year, she said — feel less isolated.

Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne.

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