Springfield Diocese, local agencies seek solutions for homelessness

Published: 2004-07-19

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (CNS) -- Homelessness is impossible to measure with 100 percent accuracy. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that up to 600,000 men, women and children go homeless each night in the United States. A study by the Urban Institute claims that about 3.5 million people are likely to be homeless in any given year, and some say that figure could double in the next decade. The issue of homelessness and lack of affordable housing was dramatically illustrated in Springfield recently. From May 12 to July 15, approximately 80 people lived in 40 tents on the grounds of St. Michael's Cathedral in Springfield. The site was dubbed "Sanctuary City." With the help of Arise for Social Justice, an advocacy group for the poor, the encampment was established after a church-run shelter called the Warming Place closed May 11 because of a lack of funds. The Springfield Diocese and Bishop Timothy A. McDonnell initially set a target date of July 1 for people to vacate the site in hopes that a favorable solution would be found before then. The diocese granted two more extensions; the final deadline was July 15.

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