Study finds increased housing instability in Pioneer Valley, particularly among minorities
Today 4:54 AM
A study by the UMass Donahue Institute has found affordable housing in the Pioneer Valley is increasingly out of reach. (Don Treeger / The Republican file photo)
Facebook Share
SPRINGFIELD A study by the UMass Donahue Institute has found affordable housing in the Pioneer Valley is increasingly out of reach, particularly among minorities, and further impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
The 52-page report looks at “housing instability,” which is gauged by various measures of affordability as well as data on foreclosures, vacancy rates and homelessness. It says housing inequities in the region stem from economic pressure “as well as a long history overt and covert racist policies and practices that created and reinforced residential segregation.”
More affordable housing coming to Great Barrington berkshireeagle.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from berkshireeagle.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Patriots donate 30,000 masks to Western Massachusetts nonprofits
Updated Mar 12, 2021;
Posted Mar 12, 2021
Center for Human Development CEO Jim Goodwin joins Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni as 7,500 medical masks were delivered to the agency courtesy of the New England Patriots Foundation. The team s foundation donated 30,000 masks to area nonprofits.
Facebook Share
SPRINGFIELD The New England Patriots have donated some 30,000 medical masks to Hampden County educational, medical and nonprofit organizations, directly from Gillette Stadium.
The contributions came after Patriots Foundation President Joshua Kraft asked Hampden District Attorney Anthony Gulluni to help figure out who in the area needed personal protective equipment during the coronavirus pandemic.
3:37 Government funds have helped people in western Massachusetts stay in their homes as jobs were lost and income shrank during the pandemic. Last June, the city of Springfield announced a $2 million emergency housing fund to help people pay rent, mortgage, and utility bills. All but $140,000 has now been claimed. The state has put millions into housing assistance. Additionally, Springfield last year awarded $5 million to four social service agencies to assist the homeless. Most of that money has not yet been spent, according to Gerry McCafferty, the city’s Director of Housing. My sense is that it is not that there is not enough money, said McCafferty. One of the issues is people knowing about whether the money is there and being to access it because there is sometimes delays in accessing it.
Springfield official, organizations describe deep need for rent and utility assistance during COVID pandemic
Updated Mar 04, 2021;
SPRINGFIELD City officials and organizations that help the homeless and poor said this week there remains a dire need for financial assistance and guidance as families cope with rent arrears and the threat of evictions.
The challenges were discussed during a meeting on Tuesday conducted by the City Council’s COVID-19 Response Committee.
Geraldine McCafferty, the city’s director of housing, said Wednesday in the aftermath of the meeting that thousands of residents are at threat of eviction or foreclosure under the pandemic.
“There is a critical need for rent, mortgage and utility assistance, to fill the lost-income gap and keep people in their homes,” McCafferty said. “Springfield also has many small landlords, who rely on the payments their tenants have been unable to make.”