September 10, 2020

Springfield’s Catholic Charities Agency receives $795,000 grant for homeless aid

REGIONAL
By Rebecca Drake

Kathryn Buckley-Brawner (left), executive director of Catholic Charities, and staff members Natanael Velez, social services case worker, and Laura Robertson, program manager, speak with Bishop Robert McManus, apostolic administrator of the Springfield Diocese, during his Aug. 28 visit to diocesan offices. (iObserve photo/Rebecca Drake)

SPRINGFIELD — The Catholic Charities Agency of the Springfield Diocese has received a $795,000 grant from the Massachusetts Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to help provide aid to local homeless individuals and families during the current COVID-19 pandemic.

As the primary recipient of this Emergency Solutions Grant, the Catholic Charities Agency will provide $260,000 to Mercy Medical Center’s Healthcare for the Homeless (HCH) program. Working together, Catholic Charities and HCH will implement expanded street outreach and secure emergency shelter for chronically homeless individuals to stop or slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

According to Catholic Charities executive director Kathryn Buckley-Brawnner, “The $260,000 is to pay the salaries of the Mercy (Medical Center) street outreach workers who will subsequently refer the client to a homeless shelter or Catholic Charities for motel shelter, and to health care providers.”

HCH follows a nursing model of health care, providing assessment, intervention, referrals, follow-up and education to the homeless.

A Sept. 9 press release from Mercy Medical Center, a member of Trinity Health Of New England, states: “Under the HCH portion of the grant, a team consisting of a registered nurse, community health worker and a psychiatrist (for telemedicine services), will provide outreach services to individuals who are not utilizing congregate living situations, especially focusing on the communities of Springfield, Holyoke, Westfield and Chicopee. Basic primary care and behavioral health services will also be offered through the HCH program.”

The Mercy Medical Center press release also notes: Over the course of the Emergency Solutions Grant, which runs through June 2021, Catholic Charities and HCH will assist at least 25 individuals or families with hotel or motel shelter, accompanying stability services, and case management.  Once a client has been identified and referred for hotel or motel sheltering, Catholic Charities and Mercy’s HCH team will provide on-going services to ensure a successful outcome.” 

The DHCD grant also will help fund essential services such as case management; employment assistance and job training; life skills training; mental health services; substance abuse treatment services; and hotel and motel vouchers.

“The funding that was made available through HUD and the state Department of Housing and Community Development was in response to the overall need for preventive measures with and on behalf of those who are at great risk,” said Buckley-Brawner. “It limits the risk to the client as well as to the public.” 

If infection is suspected or confirmed, it provides a place where clients can self-quarantine, be provided with essential services, while being regularly monitored for worsening symptoms,” she said. “Contact tracing will also be more timely and accurate.”  

In an interview with iObserve, Buckley-Brawner noted that she is pursuing some follow-up  grant opportunities that “will be a package for homeless shelters and rapid re-housing.”

“All are COVID-related, to further address growing needs of the homeless population,” she said.