Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity offers Free Tax Assistance

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PITTSFIELD, Mass. — For more than a dozen years, Central Berkshire Habitat for Humanity (CBHFH) has provided free income tax preparation to qualifying households through the IRS-supported Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program.
 
Services are available to households earning $69,000 or less, as well as individuals with disabilities and older adults.
 
All VITA volunteers complete extensive training and are IRS-certified. According to CBHFH CEO Carolyn Valli, the program's success is rooted in both volunteer commitment and community trust.
 
"Most of our volunteers return year after year to support this essential service for underserved residents of Berkshire County," said Valli. "More than 85 percent of our clients are returning clients, and much of the remaining 15 percent are new clients from South County whom we've recently been able to reach."
 
VITA services will begin Monday, January 26, with both drop-off options and scheduled appointments available to assist residents with their tax paperwork.
 
"Thanks to our dedicated volunteers, we're fully prepared to support our clients throughout tax season," said Lynne Newton, CBHFH Community Navigator and VITA Program Coordinator. "We're here to help in whatever way best meets their needs."
 
CBHFH also offers language support, including Spanish interpretation by appointment, to ensure residents feel comfortable navigating IRS requirements.
 
"Tax time can be stressful," Newton added. "Having documents explained in your native language can make a meaningful difference and help ease anxiety."
 
Service Locations & Hours
 
Pittsfield –Appointments available at 314 Columbus Avenue and Federal Credit Union Community Space, 75
Kellogg St.
  • Mondays through Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
  • Thursday: 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
South County – Mason Library 231 Main Street, Great Barrington
  • Tuesdays & Thursdays: 2:00 p.m. – 5:45 p.m.
  • Wednesdays: 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
MCLA - VITA tax preparation is also available by appointment only.
 
To schedule an appointment, call 413.442.3184.
 
For more information or to make an appointment at any location, residents can call 413.442.3184 or visit www.berkshirehabitat.org/VITA.
 
 
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.

15 People Displaced in Pittsfield Home Fires

Staff Reports

PITTSFIELD, Mass. — Fifteen people were displaced after 2-alarm home fires this weekend on Springside Avenue and Elaine Drive. 

On Friday evening, the Fire Department responded to a structure fire at 209 Springside Ave., which took a four-hour battle to extinguish and resulted in a partial roof collapse. The next day, on Saturday evening, crews knocked down a fire at 121 Elaine Drive in about an hour. 

The garage and part of the single-family home on Elaine Drive were gutted to the frame, along with a vehicle parked in the driveway. On Springside Avenue, the top level and porch of the multifamily were burned through.  

A GoFundMe has been started for the family of the Elaine Drive home, which includes several young children.  The fundraiser, with a $5,500 goal, explains they lost their home and all of their belongings. (iBerkshires.com does not confirm or endorse fundraisers; they are provided as information only.)

There were no civilian or firefighter injuries, and both incidents are under investigation.  One dog was rescued on Springside Avenue. 

On Oct. 10, around 6:15 p.m., PFD responded to the Springside Avenue home for a reported structure fire and saw a 2 1/2-story wood frame multifamily with a heavy blaze showing from the second-floor front porch, extending out. 

The building suffered a partial roof collapse, which prolonged extinguishment. The fire was brought under control after about four hours.

“An aggressive offensive attack was mounted by first arriving crews stretching hose lines into the building as well as primary searches that proved negative. Ladders were placed around the structure to provide access as well as escape if needed. An off-duty Fire Captain had also been on scene early in the incident to help evacuate the structure and rescue a dog,” PFD wrote in a press release. 

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