PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Pittsfield city leaders are outlining how they'll use nearly $9 million in ARPA funds for housing initiatives.

During the Mayor’s Special Forum on Housing and Homelessness Thursday, they laid out a plan. It includes money to relocate people at the former St. Joseph Central High School emergency shelter to a new one and two developments of permanent supportive housing with a resource center for residents.

City leaders said permanent supportive housing combines affordable housing and support services to help people build independent living skills and connect them with health, treatment and employment resources.

"What is different about permanent supporting housing from traditional affordable housing or public housing is that there is a very deep investment in a services model, a comprehensive services model,” Eileen Peltier, CEO and President of Berkshire Housing Systems, Inc, said. “The other difference is that individuals who typically move into permanent supportive housing are what we would call individuals who are chronically homeless.”

City leaders said they'll keep working to help people find housing while the projects are being completed.