The city council Committee on Human Services, Housing, Youth and Elder Affairs received an update last night on the progress the administration has made in combatting homelessness and creating more affordable housing.
Michael Dion, Director of the Fall River Community Development Agency, says 96 individuals have been identified as homeless in the city’s latest “Point in Time” count. The city continues to deploy a Street Outreach Team that has monitored and disbanded about a half dozen homeless encampments across the city.
On the housing front, Mr. Dion says his office continues to look at opportunities to create more affordable units while encouraging neighboring communities to do the same.
Director of Outreach Services Nikki Fontaine says overdose cases are at their lowest levels since 2016 while the need for mental health services for the homeless has doubled. Gains that have been made in communicating and finding services for the homeless have been the result of local service agencies working together.
Mr. Dion says even though challenges remain, the successes seen in recent years have come about with the help of COVID CARES Act funding that will expire later this year. He says moving forward, the government must provide more money toward battling homelessness and creating affordable housing.
Video courtesy Fall River Government Television
Photo courtesy The Herald News
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