Advocates call for state action to address the western Massachusetts Homelessness Crisis
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – Housing instability and homelessness is on the rise in western Massachusetts.
'I fell in urine, cracked two ribs, my rent was out of the roof, I'm on disability, new owners bought the building, raised my rent by $50 more, so I had to move,' said Bennita Watford, a housing advocate from Springfield.
'There are a lot of issues when it comes to the grown market in job creation, mental health crisis, or the lack of work, or rising costs,' said Senator Adam Gomez.
The Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness has laid out its legislative priorities for the upcoming session. Their focus is to keep people inside their homes and off the streets.
According to the U.S Department of Housing and Urban Development, 3,560 people experience homelessness in this part of the region.
Since 2021, rent rose 32. 5% in Hampden, Hampshire, and Franklin Counties, and 39.7% in Berkshire County. Eviction filings rose 66% between 2022 and 2024.
This is the reason why 58-year-old Bennita Watford moved away to live with her family in Pittsfield.
'It's good, but who wants to depend on their children. That's the part that hurts me more,' said Watford.
Hundreds of tenants, renters, state and local leaders came together on Friday for the 9th Annual Gathering of the Western Massachusetts Network to End Homelessness. They want to change each other's pain into power.
The network is seeking legislative action on 12 bills to help increase housing stability. 'Like my rent stabilization bill. I think we have to look towards the realization that individuals are struggling to pay their rent, and individuals who are not only working one job, but two or three jobs,' said Gomez.
Other bills are looking to give tenants the opportunity to purchase their housing before being sold to an investment company, and enact a real estate transfer fee on the highest-selling homes to fund more affordable housing.
You can join this fight at westernmasshousingfirst.org.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Yahoo
Change in command of 655 Regional Support Group at Westover base
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – A local unit within the U.S. Army Reserve is changing its commands. Family, friends, and the soldiers of the 655 Regional Support Group witnessed a command change from one officer to another on Sunday at the Westover Air Reserve Base in Chicopee. This celebration is one of the military's oldest traditions. 'We have a long process of selection in terms of our leadership and also military professional development that has led me to this point,' said Colonel Jay Greeley. Driver crashes into JFK Memorial in Holyoke, police seek charges Colonel Greeley joined the military in Virginia 25 years ago, shortly after 9/11. He's been a dedicated citizen-soldier with over two decades of experience in logistics and operations in the U.S. and overseas. His commitment led him to become the new commander of the 655th Regional Support Group, a unit that was established in 2002. The unit has been deployed worldwide to provide direct combat service support, command and control to units under its leadership. 'The commander will oversee this unit that is made up of about 1,300 soldiers throughout New England,' Colonel Sean Sherwood said. It was a position that Colonel Sean Sherwood did not want to let go of. He led the RSG for the last two years, but as he moves on to another commander role in his home state of Hawaii, he believes that the RSG's soldiers are ready for what's next. 'Soldiers here have learned to adapt, push through innovative ways for what we have to do to manage the expectations of the battlefield changes quickly,' Sherwood said. 'And it has changed significantly in the way they think.' Colonel Greeley told 22News he already has a plan for the unit, because the mission of the unit is to function as a command and control headquarters to extend protection over the Combat Support Brigade. 'In the next couple of years, we will really be focused on being ready now,' Greeley said. 'What that means is becoming tactically and technically proficient, doing soldier basic fundamentals of shoot, move, and communicate. So when our nation needs us, no matter where it is in the world, our soldiers are ready.' All of this comes at a perfect time, as the U.S. Army celebrated its 250th birthday this year. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
6 hours ago
- Yahoo
No license required during Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend in Mass.
CHICOPEE, Mass. (WWLP) – While those in Massachusetts usually need a license to fish in freshwater, it won't be mandatory during Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend. During the first weekend of June, anyone is free to fish at any lake, pond, reservoir, stream, or river in the state, whether you have a fishing license or not. Free Freshwater Fishing Weekend takes place this year from midnight on June 7 until 11:59 p.m. on June 8. Holyoke Farmers' Market kicks off 2025 season Throughout this special weekend, all other regulations, including catch limits, apply. Massachusetts residents are encouraged to review fishing regulations by MassWildlife before diving in headfirst this upcoming weekend. Aside from the event, if you are 15 or older, you are required to have a license to be able to fish in freshwater. The license comes free of charge if you are 15-17 or 70 and older. Anglers who prefer to fish in saltwater had the opportunity to take part in a 2025 Free Saltwater Fishing Day on May 11 and will get to do so again on June 15. Funds from fishing license sales go towards MassWildlife's fisheries research, fish stocking programs, and angler education programs. To buy your own fishing license, visit WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
7 hours ago
- Yahoo
Driver crashes into JFK Memorial in Holyoke, police seek charges
HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – The Holyoke Police Department is seeking charges against a driver who crashed into the John F. Kennedy Memorial Plaza Sunday morning. Multi-car crash in Holyoke damages traffic light, parked cars Holyoke Police Chief Brian Keenan stated that at approximately 4:25 a.m. on Sunday, officers were called to the area of Suffolk Street and Sycamore Street for a single-vehicle crash. The crash resulted in significant damage to several monuments located at the Memorial Plaza. Police and fire crews were able to gain access to the vehicle and remove the driver and passenger from the car. Both occupants were administered Narcan and brought to the hospital to be evaluated for injuries. The driver, a 26-year-old man from Springfield, was issued a citation. Chief Keenan said that officers will be seeking a criminal complaint against him for OUI – Drugs and Wanton Destruction of Property. The Holyoke Department of Public Works has been contacted about the damage to the memorial. 22News will provide updates as more information becomes available. WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
