Friends of the Homeless to open extra shelter
October 21, 2011 at 9:15 AM
SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB) — The homeless rate in the greater Springfield area is reaching record highs. Since the first of the year The Friends of the Homeless has helped more than a thousand men and women get off the streets.
“The Friends of the Homeless gave me a place to stay, gave me a place to eat you know they are looking out for me,” said William Johnson.
Johnson lost his wife last year. Since then he’s been staying at The Friends of the Homeless. They’re helping him get back on his feet and into his own home.
“They have councilors here that help you. I applied for section 8. I have people that are trying to help me out,” said Johnson.
Johnson is one of more than a hundred who wait each night for a warm place to sleep at the Worthington Street shelter.
Executive director Bill Miller says they’ve helped a record number of people this summer and expect to help even more as the weather gets colder.
“Now as we head into winter things are looking about as bad as you would want to see them so we are opening some additional space hopefully it makes a difference,” said Miller.
The extra shelter will open up at then end of the month at 501 and 503 Worthington Street. Miller say it will give about 20 to 30 people an extra place to stay.
Miller explained the June first tornado wiped out about 300 of the city’s apartments, which is making it harder for people to transition of out the shelter.
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.