GREENFIELD — As the temperatures begin to drop, city officials are working with community partners to provide options to the homeless population.
At a press conference earlier this week, Mayor Roxann Wedegartner said city staff — including Health Director Jennifer Hoffman, Director of Community and Economic Development MJ Adams, and Police Officer Laura Gordon and Police Sgt. Christopher Greene — have been working with the Opioid Task Force of Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region, Salvation Army, ServiceNet, the Greenfield Housing Authority, Community Action Pioneer Valley and the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness, among others, to “identify the gaps that expose our most vulnerable citizens to cold weather risks.”
“We understand the shelter is at capacity,” she said of the ServiceNet shelter on Wells Street. “But there are some new efforts with some new funding in the works with our partners … to identify and make available additional winter shelter options.”
She said the city is working with Salvation Army — which is typically open Monday through Friday — to be open during additional weekend hours. Additionally, public buildings such as the John W. Olver Transit Center and the Greenfield Public Library will be open more hours than they were last winter.
“We recognize the need for additional options,” Wedegartner said. “Some things that will happen — public porta potties will remain at Energy Park and near the parking garage; ServiceNet reports the Wells Street shelter will remain open 24/7 during the winter months.”
The Living Room offered by Clinical & Support Options (CSO) on High Street will be available again this year, as well as the Wildflower Alliance (formerly the Western Mass Recovery Learning Community) on Chapman Street.
Reporter Mary Byrne can be reached at mbyrne@recorder.com or 413-930-4429. Twitter: @MaryEByrne