WFCR

Homelessness Coordinator for WMass NORTHAMPTON, MA (wfcr) - Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick has been advocating a new way to end chronic homelessness -- it's called Housing First, a national model designed to replace the emergency shelter system. Springfield was one of the first cities in Massachusetts to try it out -- that's led to permanent housing for a couple hundred people. Last year, the state hired ten coordinators across Massachusetts to implement this approach on a region-by-region basis. Since July, Pamela Schwartz has been coordinator for the four counties of western Massachusetts. Schwartz -- who's also a northampton city council member - spoke recently with WFCR's Karen Brown. She began by explaining the philosophy behind Housing First.
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