Berkshire United Way Grant

BUW Announces $1.4 million in community grants for 2014-2015 in Berkshire County.

June 3, 2014, Pittsfield – Berkshire United Way today announced it is investing $1,402,214 in 40 programs in Central and Southern Berkshire County for fiscal year July 1, 2014 through June 30, 2015.

Construct, as a lead agency for the Project Home Collaborative, has been awarded $55,000 for its programming that promotes housing and financial stability in southern Berkshire County. This Berkshire United Way award partially funds a comprehensive collaborative effort with partners, Railroad Street Youth Program, BRIDGE,Inc., Habitat for Humanity, the Brien Center, the Community Health program and the Southern Berkshire Chamber of Commerce.  Together, services will be bundled to best financially stabilize families and individuals. While services will be comprehensive, focus will be on workforce development, financial literacy, and access to affordable housing.y.

Berkshire United Way held a Request for Proposal process for its financial stability goal area this year and awarded grants to three collaborative projects with a primary focus to improve individual and family financial stability, which, when combined with community investments in early childhood literacy and positive youth development, are critical building blocks for a high quality of life and helps secure the future of the community.

Berkshire United Way will invest in Berkshire Community Action Council, Construct Inc., and Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity as lead agencies that will work collaboratively with public and private community partners to deliver services aimed at creating financial stability for individuals and families through activities such as raising credit scores, maintaining employment, earning a degree or certificate, and more. A strong focus is on ensuring more people countywide have access to the Earned Income Tax Credit by participating in the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which studies show is proven to help lift families out of poverty.

“Consistent with the community’s financial stability goal of increasing the number of low income working families that are financially stable, Berkshire United Way will partner with organizations that take an integrated approach to helping people create a path to financial independence,” Berkshire United Way President and CEO Kristine Hazzard said.

Read full press release here.