Local agency helping individuals who don’t qualify for Right to Shelter law

NORTHAMPTON, Mass. (WWLP) – Housing continues to be the state’s biggest problem. Right now, Massachusetts is short about 200,000. That means higher costs to both buy and rent a home and more people who are unable to pay those prices.

We’ve been hearing a lot about the impact that migrant and refugee families are having on the emergency shelter system in western Massachusetts. But, there are individuals in need of housing in our area.

More than 6,500 individuals, meaning adults without children, are currently homeless in Massachusetts. Clinical and Support Options , also known as CSO, is one local agency working to help these people. They have shelters in Springfield, Northampton, and Greenfield.

“Shelter is critically important,” said Jane Banks, the Vice president of House and Homeless Services for CSO. “We are a safety net. We should be a safety net. We should be short-term emergency shelters for folks on their pathway to more permanency. If we don’t have enough housing for folks, then we become a longer-stay shelter.”

CSO has a plan to get people out of their shelters and into more permanent housing. They are adding new units, 36 in Springfield on Worthington St. and another 36 on Wells St. in Greenfield.

“Housing across the board is critical to house people who are homeless, who are really struggling,” said banks. “We don’t have enough affordable housing in the region, in the state, anywhere. Having these additional supportive housing units coming online is going to be critical to the success of people in our system.”

The state is also trying to increase the number of housing units available. Gov. Maura Healey has been campaigning across the state for her $4 billion Affordable Homes Act aimed at increasing production and lowering costs. If passed, it would pave the way for about 40,000 new homes to be built and thousands more to be rehabbed.

The Affordable Homes Act still needs to be approved by state lawmakers in both the House and Senate before it becomes law. Housing Secretary Ed Augustus told 22News that could happen next month.

Local News

Tips before starting up your grills this weekend

Task Force on the lookout for safety on Connecticut River Memorial Day weekend

State offering transition from emergency teacher licensure to permanent

State Senate passes amendments in support of veterans services

Taylor Knight is a morning anchor and I-Team reporter who has been a part of the 22News team since 2018. Follow Taylor on X @TaylorKNews and view her bio to see more of her work.

For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WWLP.