Our growing team of full and part-time volunteers are committed to helping to empower tenants from the affordable housing community in the Berkshires and beyond. We take our convictions and challenges, and turn them into thoughtful action. Think you would be a good fit for our team ? Get in touch for more information!
During the COVID pandemic, an urgent need for positive change and energetic, passionate advocacy for tenants became clear. PCA was formed as a grassroots solution to real material challenges for tenants living in affordable housing in Southern Berkshire county. Since 2020, our community based advocacy on key housing issues has gained tremendous municipal and organizational support. We eagerly await the realization of our mutual projects, goals, and dreams for all tenant members living in Berkshire County.
At PCA our collective hopes are many. However, our primary focus is to successfully advocate for tenant members in need of solidarity and support; to help connect them to needed, available community resources. Working within the transformative justice framework, we strive to build and strengthen our community through self sustaining projects, initiatives, and local and municipal partnerships.
Our community garden revitalization project is in need of funding or donations of the following items: a new perimeter fence, new raised bed materials, small white stone for walkways, site regrading consultation, topsoil, seedlings, a rotating composter, garden tools/supports, apiary supplies, electric fencing, drip irrigation system; greenhouse supplies: fans/heaters/benches/tables/pots, fruit trees, and shrubs, native and non-native pollinator perennial plants are also needed 🙏🏼
In 2021, PCA teamed up with playground contracting firm O'Brien and Sons from Medway, MA to design a new playground for Pinewoods residents. Significant funding is desperately needed to implement this dream project, which includes the purchase of new, high quality playground equipment, a new sandbox, and durable, sustainable play surfaces by Landscape Structures. A new, modern, integrated playground design will not only become a source of pride by adding great aesthetic value to our community, but will help to create a more inclusive community space to be enjoyed by residents all ages, for decades to come.
***Project Update***
In July 2023, the Affordable Housing Trust Committee of Stockbridge voted and approved
$40,000 in combined CPC/ARPA funds to be allocated for the Pinewoods Playground Project. Both PCA and the families of Pinewoods are beyond excited and grateful to the Affordable Housing Trust Committee and Town of Stockbridge for this generous gift !
Community donations or an ongoing sponsorship for dumpster service at the Pinewoods property is desperately needed. As Massachusetts state housing law only requires landlords of buildings of 2 or more units to provide garbage removal, and with transfer station hours being very limited, many Pinewoods residents who work early shifts or long hours are unable to make it to the transfer station in time. This leaves them no choice but to place trash outside, unprotected from bears. Dumpster service for residents would not only greatly improve the overall safety of the many children and other vulnerable residents in our community, but keep our outdoor spaces cleaner, and free from other unwanted pests.
A enclosed bus stop for Pinewoods bus commuters and school aged children is also very needed. In a similar theme to the Pinewoods Community Garden project, in which we hope to install several new pollinator gardens thoughout the property, it seems only natural that we should jump on the bee bus stop bandwagon !
A thorough tree inspection of the many trees on the Pinewoods property by a certified arborist is needed. Due to age, climate change, extreme weather, and damaging bug/pest infestations, the compromised structural integrity of the trees on the property pose a potential safety risk to both Pinewoods tenants and their personal property. Tree work is needed for trees posing the most significant safety risk. If you are a licensed arborist or tree service company and would like to help, or you would like to sponsor this project, please get in touch or click below !