Homeless shelter receives assistance
July 11, 2011 at 4:58 PM
Shannon Halligan-WWLP
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - Springfield's homeless are getting some much needed assistance. The state budget may be tight, but more funding has been approved for Friends of the Homeless in Springfield.
Before this funding, the shelter was only allocated $13 per person, per night, from the state. Some shelters in the Eastern part of the state got more than $70.
Now they'll get a bit of a boost to help the more than 1000 people who stay in the Springfield shelter each year.
Bill Miller of Friends of the Homeless said, “We would have had to make some pretty substantial cuts in services including possibly closing during the day without these funds, so this allows us to continue the work that we've been doing.”
Friends of the Homeless allotment will increase to at least $20 per person, per night. That will help with food, shelter, and other services like career assistance
To see Shannon Halligan's entire story or watch the video, click on: http://www.wwlp.com/dpp/news/local/hampden/Homeless-shelter-receives-assistance
Kathy Tobin
After almost thirty years covering the news for television affiliates in Western Massachusetts, Kathy joined Friends of the Homeless in the fall of 2009 to help raise money and the profile of the organization to fulfill its mission. As Director of Development, Kathy is available to help you understand the work we are doing and how you might contribute to end homelessness in our community.