Berkshire Organizations Share in Findings From Western Mass Housing Study

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Berkshire Regional Planning Commission, Hearthway, and Upside413 are partnering with Way Finders and their research partner, the UMass Donahue Institute, to share in-depth findings from "Building Homes. Building Futures."

This first-ever housing study will cover Berkshire, Franklin, Hampshire, and Hampden Counties at an event on Thursday, Oct. 23 at the Berkshire Community College's Boland Theater.

According to the study, Berkshire County needs nearly 2,000 new housing units to meet current demand. Even with projected declines in population locally, the gap will still be nearly 1,000 units by 2035. Even more may be needed to stem population loss. The report, along with its online interactive data dashboards, provides western Massachusetts communities with information to address this crisis.

Event details:

5:00 p.m.        Check-in

5:30 p.m.        Welcome and Introductions by Tom Matusko

5:40 p.m.        Presentation by Michael McNally, Senior Research Analyst at UMass Donahue Institute

6:20 p.m.        Q&A period followed by strategy development

7:00 p.m.        Closing

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