By Blox Content Management
To the editor: Pittsfield is currently at the center of a public debate about homelessness. (“Pittsfield’s Ordinances and Rules Committee sent back Mayor Peter Marchetti’s proposed camping ordinance for changes,” Eagle, July 2.)
But if we want to talk about it honestly, we need to begin by acknowledging a basic fact: Pittsfield has become a regional landing pad for people seeking help with mental health and addiction. This is not an accident — it’s because our city hosts the most accessible network of services in the county.
The Brien Center, Berkshire Health Systems and various peer and outreach programs offer real support. But once someone finishes a program or ages out of a shelter bed, there are few long-term options. Without enough transitional or permanent housing, many become stuck here — not because they want to be homeless in Pittsfield but because it’s where help was available and where they were left afterward.
We see a similar dynamic in Greenfield, which also provides strong services for crisis care, detox and outpatient support. And to the business owners on North Street who believe visible homelessness is driving customers away, I’d urge a broader perspective: Northampton has a very visible homeless population, yet its downtown remains vibrant. That suggests the problem isn’t just presence — it might be that downtown Pittsfield simply isn’t offering enough to make the trip.
If Pittsfield is serving the region, it can’t be expected to carry the burden alone. The entire county — and ideally the commonwealth — needs to step in and fund transitional and supportive housing in Pittsfield. This would not be a charity but an investment in the infrastructure that already exists. Otherwise, we’re stabilizing people in crisis only to leave them with nowhere to go.
The debate we need isn’t just about homelessness. It’s about shared responsibility — and the political will to match services with housing, and perception with understanding.
Justin Allen, Pittsfield