Jefferson Avenue Shelter

Jefferson Ave
Springfield MA 01107
Ph: (413) 736-2263
Fax: (413) 731-5964
Email: shelter@openpantry.org
Contact: Patty McDonnell, Program Director

Open Pantry's Jefferson Avenue Shelter (JAS) is an emergency shelter for families who are homeless. The program is designed to meet immediate and long-term needs of participants.

JAS is designed to assist families in accessing resources, both their own inner resources and those supportive resources available in the community. This is done not only to meet their needs but also to assist them with their long-term goals of self-sufficiency and independence.

Case managers meet with guests individually once a week to discuss concerns about medical, mental health, education, and employment issues. Residents are assisted with securing subsidized or permanent housing that is safe, clean, and affordable. They are required to actively search for housing at least four days a week as well as be enrolled in an educational or job-training program. Residents also receive assistance with daily living skills, parenting skills, and budgeting.

Residents of Jefferson Avenue Shelter are referred to the program by the Department of Transitional Assistance. The shelter can provide for 9 families at a time and assisted 29 families in 2007.

Jefferson Avenue Shelter is the only congregate family shelter in the area that is accessible for people with disabilities. An accessible unit is complete with kitchen, bathroom and bedroom.

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