PITTSFIELD — Hearthway Inc. invites the community to celebrate the launch of the First, Pittsfield’s new living-room model housing resource center, featuring showers, laundry, kitchen amenities, flexible community space, on-site housing support, and permanent supportive apartments on West Housatonic and First streets. The First is a collaborative initiative led by Hearthway in partnership with ServiceNet, Zion Lutheran Church, Cathedral of the Beloved, and the city of Pittsfield.
A ribbon-cutting ceremony will take place on Wednesday, Dec. 18 at 5:30 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church, 74 First St., home to both the First and First Street Apartments. The ceremony will include remarks from Secretary Ed Augustus of the Executive Office of Housing and Livable Communities, Pittsfield Mayor Peter Marchetti, and Erin Forbush, senior director of Shelter and Housing at ServiceNet.
Prior to the ceremony, from 4 to 5:30 p.m., guests are invited to tour three of Hearthway’s newest housing initiatives: the First and First Street Apartments, both located at 74 First St., and West Housatonic Apartments at 111 West Housatonic St.
The development of the First has been made possible through significant support from local partners and donors, led by a $300,000, two-year foundational commitment from Berkshire Health Systems, which has been instrumental in advancing the project. Contributions from Adams Community Bank, Pittsfield Cooperative Bank, Berkshire Bank Foundation, Lee Bank, MOLARI Employment and HealthCare Services, MountainOne Bank, Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation, Greylock Federal Credit Union, and individual donors have further propelled the initiative forward.
The Lee Bank Foundation’s $25,000 grant also represents the largest single donation available to local nonprofits.
“We’re proud to support the First through both grant funding and financing. This project will provide a welcoming space and a sense of community for anyone who needs it,” said Chuck Leach, president of Lee Bank. “This collaboration reflects the very best of what strong community partnerships can achieve, bringing together nonprofits, government, and private-sector resources to create meaningful change in Pittsfield.”
Together, these contributions have brought the First close to its $600,000 fundraising goal, with nearly $450,000 raised to date, reflecting the community’s shared commitment to expanding housing and homelessness resources in Pittsfield. An anonymous donor’s matching $60,000 challenge continues to double the impact of new contributions. To make a donation, visit servicenet.org/firsttodonate.
