Congressman John Olver: News

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Press Release: November 03, 2006

Congressman John W. Olver
1111 Longworth House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515-2101

Tel: 202-225-5335
Fax: 202-226-1224

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

BERKSHIRE COUNTY ARC TO RECEIVE $576,200 GRANT

WASHINGTON, D.C. Today, Congressman John W. Olver (D-1st District) and Berkshire County Arc (BCARC) announced that BCARC will receive a $576,200 Section 811 grant from the U. S. Department of Housing & Urban Development.

The funding will be used to construct a group home in Pittsfield for six low-income individuals with traumatic brain injuries. The program will be supported by The State Head Injury Program a division of The Massachusetts Rehab Commission. The home will be fully accessible and will provide supportive services such as cleaning, cooking, and transportation services for residents.

The HUD Section 811 program allocates funds to increase the supply of rental housing with supportive services to allow very low-income persons with disabilities to live as independently as possible in the community. To be eligible for the assistance, a household must be classified as "very low-income," which means an income less than 50 percent of the area median. However, most households that receive Section 811 assistance have an income less than 30 percent of the area median.

Congressman John Olver said, "This property will provide much needed independence and dignity for individuals who have suffered from sudden and life-altering injuries. The supportive housing model will allow these residents to re-learn skills, obtain and maintain productive careers, and re-connect with the community."

Kenneth Singer, Executive Director of Berkshire County Arc, said, "We are thrilled to have received this important grant. It is a tribute to great community support and the high quality of work done by our staff"

This is the fourth grant received by Berkshire County Arc over the past three years, for a total of approximately $3,076,000.

Berkshire County Arc also recently broke ground on a $2.2 million apartment building funded by its first HUD grant in downtown Pittsfield on the corner of Maplewood Avenue and First Street.

Berkshire County Arc serves more than 400 individuals with developmental disabilities and traumatic brain injuries throughout Berkshire and Hampden Counties. It operates 34 residential programs, as well as numerous day and vocational programs. The agency employs approximately 500 staff.

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For additional information, please contact Kenneth Singer, Executive Director of Berkshire County Arc, at 413-499-4241.