PITTSFIELD, Mass. - Pittsfield affordable housing nonprofit Hearthway is celebrating the start of three projects to combat the homeless crisis in the city. 

The new builds will include a housing resource center and two permanent supportive housing buildings for individuals that are unhoused.

“What we’ve learned is that people aren’t going to be able to sustain that housing or thriven their lives without support," said Hearthway CEO and President Eileen Peltier. "Certainly some people can, but a lot of people need that additional support. So these housing units come with both sort of community-level services and individualized services."

There will be 37 apartments coming to Pittsfield. The West Housatonic Apartments will have 28 units while the First Street Apartments will hold nine. Housing Secretary Ed Augustus spoke in support of the projects and recognizes the need for affordable housing in the state.

“We know that individual homelessness is on the rise and that is really driven by the housing crisis that we're facing not only here in Massachusetts but really throughout the country," Augustus said. "There’s not enough housing not enough affordable housing."

Within Zion Lutheran Church Hearthway is in the process of building nine affordable studio apartments on the second floor which used to house the church's Sunday school that Spectrum News 1 reported on last month.

“The church is always asking what is it that we have and how do we take what we have to be a good neighbor," Pastor Joel Bergeland said. "And what we had in this case was too much building for our church. And so we kept asking the question how are we meant to use this building who is meant to share this space with us."

A housing resource center will be located on the lower level at the church. This center will help any individuals with basic necessities and housing support.

“For anyone who’s looking for solutions around housing a warm place to be community there will be laundry there will be a commercial kitchen tech services all kinds of things that people will need,” Peltier said.

The West Housatonic Apartments recently broke ground and is hoping to be open by the end of 2025 while the housing resource center and First Street apartments plan to be open in July.