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Date: 9/26/2023
HADLEY — Thirty-eight residents currently occupy the ground floor of 329 Russell St. the site of a former Econo Lodge and University of Massachusetts housing, and now home to guests of Craig’s Doors, an emergency shelter.
“It’s classified as an emergency individual shelter, there’s no families there but we are a low threshold program which just means everyone is always welcome at Craig’s Doors,” said Executive Director Timothy McCarthy
The building is currently owned by Valley Community Development which has been considering the site for low income housing. In 2022 it was utilized to house new University of Massachusetts students.
Right now, Craig’s Doors is operating with a one-year lease on the property.
McCarthy said people can always come back even if there are behavioral issues, they will welcome people back after a certain period of time.
“We try our very best not to allow bridges to ever be burned,” he said.
The year-round facility not only offers shelter but case management for the individuals who stay there while working through domestic, social, medical and behavioral challenges.
McCarthy said they operate with a trauma informed lens when welcoming in and dealing with residents.
“Everyone has a unique circumstance so we meet them where they’re at and provide whatever we can for the individual while creating a sense of community,” he said.
McCarthy points to an overwhelming lack of housing in the Pioneer Valley and while housing vouchers are sometimes available, many times they are based upon housing rates in Springfield which is often considerably lower than other areas.
Day to day funding, he said comes from the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities.
At the former Econo Lodge location in Hadley, the current residents live two to a room, take part in household chores and the upkeep of the premises.
“The way that we deliver services is walking shoulder to shoulder with the guest, we’re not handing down any charity,” he said. “It’s not anything like that, we operate in a totally non-judgmental space.”
At the Hadley location, meals are provided by the Survival Center and the Manna Community Kitchen and other services are accomplished with the aid of local partners.
Anna, a resident at Craig’s Doors locations now going on three years said she came to the shelter first due to ongoing issues involving domestic violence and missing 16-year-old daughter.
“I’ve been able to be somewhere while I work my way up,” she said.
Jessica, a long-time resident who also faced domestic violence, will soon be moving into an apartment of her own.
“I couldn’t have done it otherwise,” she said.
Another resident who is confined to a wheelchair, came to the Hadley location three months ago after living on the streets. They said they needed help not only because of domestic violence issues but also because they have chronic medical problems, and they said no other shelters would take them.
The three residents all agreed there is a sense of community and sharing at the shelter.
“I’m going to miss these people when I leave,” Jessica said.
A Sept. 8 visit to the shelter from state Sen. Jo Comerford (D-Northampton) and state Sen. Lydia Edwards (D-Boston) included discussions on shelters and affordable housing. Edwards, who co-chairs the Joint Committee on Housing made particular note of the differences in the challenges faced in the eastern and western parts of Massachusetts, with building space being more the issue near Boston while lack of funding impacts the Springfield region.
McCarthy said it’s important for people to realize that Massachusetts does not just mean Boston.
Housing legislation overall is facing challenges with Gov. Healey’s recent veto that cut more than $2 million from a state affordable housing program.
McCarthy said he would like to see more programs mirroring what the Department of Health does, matching funding to cover a years’ worth of rent for marginalized and vulnerable people.
For now, he said, community buy-in is high on their wish list for support and cooperation.
“Until culturally, we care about our neighbor’s wellness and we’re unable to continue being witness to their suffering, I don’t see a ton of structural change, I think that the problem is going to perpetuate,” he said.
Having a place to go is key.
“For folks to heal and improve their circumstances, they have to have a home,” McCarthy said.