Opioid Task Force

Together, we can tackle the serious problem of heroin and prescription drug addiction in Franklin County and the North Quabbin Region of Massachusetts.

Housing & Workforce Development

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3rd Annual Sober Housing Summit: Saving Lives Through Housing

Please join us for the 3rd Annual Sober Housing Summit: Saving Lives Through Housing to be held virtually on Friday, December 11, 2020, 10 AM – 12 Noon! Be part of the continued community conversation about the importance of expanding sober housing in our rural region.

Sponsored by the Opioid Task Force’s Housing & Workforce Development Committee, this annual gathering examines the barriers and identifies opportunities to expand the supply of sober housing in our rural area.
Opioid Task Force Co-Chairs, Sheriff Christopher J. Donelan, and Register John F. Merrigan will be featured.
Additional guest speakers include:
  • Rhianna Kendrick, Director of Operations, Groundworks Collaborative, Brattleboro, VT
  • Elizabeth Bridgewater, Executive Director, Windham & Windsor Housing Trust, Brattleboro, VT
  • Gina Govoni, Executive Director, Franklin Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority, Turners Falls, MA
  • Tom Guerino, Executive Director, Greenfield Housing Authority
  • MJ Adams, Director of Community and Economic Development, City of Greenfield, Greenfield, MA
  • Heather Bialecki-Canning, Executive Director, North Quabbin Community Coalition

Register in advance for this meeting here.

We look forward to seeing you there!

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Housing & Workforce Development Committee Meeting

Join OTF’s Housing & Workforce Development Committee members this Friday, October 23, 10 AM – 12 Noon, via Zoom, for a crucial conversation about housing and homelessness issues, especially for individuals in recovery and/or with a history of incarceration. This concern has become direr now that the COVID-19 Eviction Moratorium was lifted on October 17.

Please register for the meeting here:  https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZ0sd-CgqzwtH9a_8QWlvL-nncSiG5ZHnfT_ 

We have an all-star line-up of speakers to discuss this complex topic. As of today, they are:

  • Pamela Schwartz, Executive Director, Western MA Network to End Homelessness
  • Jay Sacchetti, Senior Vice President, Shelter/Housing, Addiction, Vocational Services, and Rose Facto, Manager, Wells St. Shelter, ServiceNet
  • MJ Adams, Community & Economic Development Director, City of Greenfield
  • Kim Scammon, Family Self-Sufficiency Coordinator, Greenfield Housing Authority
  • Amanda Watson, HCEC Director, Franklin County Regional Housing & Redevelopment Authority
  • Sophie Maki, Education & Outreach Coordinator, Massachusetts Fair Housing Center
  • Heather Bialecki-Canning, Executive Director, North Quabbin Community Coalition
  • Jennifer Dieringer, Managing Attorney, and Alyssa Golden, Staff Attorney, Community Legal Aid
  • Jennifer LaRoche, Vice President, Acute and Day Programs, Clinical & Support Options

We will also be hearing updates about available employment and training opportunities from:

  • Dr. Chet Jordan, Dean of Social Sciences & Professional Studies, Judy Raper, Associate Dean of Community Engagement, and Kristin Cole, Interim Associate Director of Workforce Development and Community Education, Greenfield Community College
  • Dr. Rebecca Bialecki, Executive Director, MassHire Franklin Hampshire Workforce Board

Questions? Reach out to Deb McLaughlin at debmc@opioidtaskforce.org for further information.

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Housing & Workforce Development Committee

This meeting is open to the public. Please email info@opioidtaskforce.org or call (413) 775-7474 if you plan to join. Please join us in the Allen Meeting Room, 1st Floor. Please do not park in the FRTA parking lot but instead use the Olive Street Parking Garage right across the street. The first hour is free!