By By Claire O’Callahan Stephanie Zollshan 鈥 The Berkshire Eagle The Berkshire Eagle
PITTSFIELD 鈥 Facing pressure from downtown business owners and others to address homelessness, Mayor Peter Marchetti says he鈥檚 open to modifying his proposed camping ordinance and funding new alternatives, including an around-the-clock resource center for unhoused residents.
In a meeting Friday with The Eagle’s editorial board, Marchetti said homelessness is a varied and complex issue with no easy and quick solutions. He outlined what motivated him to propose the camping ordinance and how he is incorporating feedback he has received into his current strategy.
In the meeting, the mayor reiterated that the ordinance is an effort to codify an existing rule that prohibits sleeping or building temporary shelter in parks and to expand it to other public spaces.
In particular, Marchetti is concerned about the vitality of North Street, where he said several business owners have threatened to close their stores if the mayor does not address people sleeping in their doorways, panhandling on the sidewalk and shoplifting from their stores.
鈥淲e as a city should not take the same attitude that everyone else has that this is a problem across the nation and no one can seem to solve the problem, so therefore there鈥檚 not a solution,鈥 Marchetti said.
As community conversations about the ordinance proliferate, Marchetti said he is open to amending the ordinance proposed and considering other solutions that could augment or replace his proposed camping ban.
One potential solution that could emerge from those conversations is expanding The First 鈥 a housing resource center that will open in the basement of Zion Lutheran Church this fall 鈥 to a 24/7 facility, Marchetti said. While the center would not offer beds for people to sleep on, it will be furnished with couches and armchairs, and offer public restrooms and showers.
If the partners behind The First agree to expand the center鈥檚 hours, Marchetti said he would provide $400,000 per year in opioid settlement funds to cover the associated costs.
鈥淎t the end of the day, I think some form of this ordinance does see the light of day,鈥 Marchetti said. 鈥淚f someone has a better idea than a 24/7 resource center, I鈥檓 all ears.鈥
Marchetti said City Councilor Earl G. Persip has asked him to explore providing lockers where homeless people can safely store their belongings.
鈥淲e have agreed to look into it,鈥 Marchetti said. 鈥淭here are some legitimate concerns that we have with that 鈥 if someone lights a locker on fire, who’s responsible for the contents of that locker?鈥
When asked what he believes is behind the growing number of people experiencing homelessness in Pittsfield, Marchetti said it is primarily a lack of resources for people struggling with mental health and substance use issues.
“I think the problem is a mental health and addiction epidemic across the nation. Folks aren’t getting the help that they need,” Marchetti said.
Housing plays a role, too, he said. But Marchetti said the city is already taking proactive action on that front, and will add 112 housing units by December, 35 of which are transitional permanent supportive housing apartments for people experiencing homelessness.
“Is the housing crisis a problem? Yes,” Marchetti said. “But does the city already have a plan to address that? Yes. Is it going to give us immediate gratification? No, because it takes time to go through that process.”
The City Council’s Committee on Ordinances and Rules meets Monday at 6 p.m. at City Hall to consider the mayor鈥檚 proposed ordinance. The committee may recommend for or against it 鈥 or choose to delay action.
“My sense and stuff that I’m hearing is that it may come out of committee and go back to council,” Marchetti said. “I think there are some members of council that then think this would be a great ballot initiative, and it could be on the ballot in November. We’ll see if that sees the light of day.”