Town leaders seeking best ways to lend a hand
In an affluent town, less fortunate people can easily fall through the cracks during tough times because people may not be aware that they are there. But if Acton town leaders have their way, that won't happen on their watch.
Last week, more than 70 community leaders, town and school officials, fire and police representatives, residents, and clergy gathered at a so-called safety-net summit to brainstorm ways to help struggling residents. They met to share ideas and identify available resources and those that are lacking.
"At the front edge of a financial crisis we thought we could bring together the leaders of organizations, institutions, and local politicians to bring everyone up to speed on the programs available and the impact budget cuts have made on our programs," said the Rev. Andrew Armstrong of the Acton Congregational Church.
Of those attending the meeting, many have overlapping constituencies, said Arm strong, but they may not have met each other or known all the services available to recommend. Attendees hope the gathering serves as a catalyst for a comprehensive approach to meeting residents' needs.
Many in attendance said the approaching winter lends a sense of urgency to helping people. "Heat is an issue in the winter and there is more concern about keeping up with payments," said Jean Fleming, director of Acton's Council on Aging. And, she said, as people rely on space heaters to save on oil costs, safety issues crop up. The example shows clearly how one need has far-reaching impact.
Lauren Rosenzweig, chairwoman of the Board of Selectmen, stressed that people are not just struggling financially. Money troubles sometimes worsen problems such as alcoholism or domestic violence. The economy is so volatile that people who once donated food or clothing are now finding themselves in need.
The summit, she said, was an opportunity for town leaders to hear about some of residents' needs. For families who live paycheck to paycheck, an unanticipated car repair might mean the difference between buying food or being able to get to work. And that is where one of Acton's shortcomings was starkly revealed. In Acton, like many suburbs, a car is necessary to get to work because, except for a commuter rail stop, there is no public transportation.
Some might be shocked at the needs in a prosperous town. "People forget that there is poverty in the suburbs," said Kelley Cronin, director of the Acton Housing Authority. "They tend to think of it as something in urban or very rural areas, but there is lots of hidden poverty. . . . For most people, forces out of their control affect them."
Rosenzweig agrees. "If something unexpected happens, it can send families into a tailspin," she said.
And the needs, even in Acton where the average single-family house price is just over $523,000, are growing. Cronin said her organization has seen a new trend. People with home foreclosures are now seeking affordable housing. "Usually our applicants are renters and first-time homeowners who are low-income and have trouble with the down payment. They are not usually homeowners."
At Acton's food pantry, requests have jumped 50 percent since last year and show no sign of slowing down.
"We are seeing people come back to us," said Kathleen Casaletto, pantry director of Community Supper Inc. "People who were slowly getting themselves back on their feet are struggling again."
The immediate outcome of the so-called safety-net summit is a resource listing on the town's website telling people where to turn for shelter, clothing, fuel assistance, food assistance, or medical help. In addition, Selectwoman Paulina Knibbe is organizing a resource booklet for community leaders to distribute or use as a reference. And some of the needs, said Rosenzweig, were unexpected, including the necessity for translators to relay information to residents who don't speak English. They were also surprised by the predicament of people on fixed incomes with pets who require unexpected and costly medical care.
Smaller needs also came to light. The Rev. Robert Moore of St. Matthews United Methodist Church said sometimes the food pantry has an overstock of tuna fish or peanut butter but lacks other essentials like pasta or diapers. Knowing the best foods and items to donate to the food pantry will have a domino effect because the pantry will serve people more effectively.
Cronin credits Acton's spirit of community assistance for hopefully keeping people afloat right now. "People in Acton are unique," she said. "Their response is one of, 'How can we help people?' not 'How can we keep them out of our town?' "
Summit attendees see the meeting as a first step in a continuing effort to make such a collaboration Acton's routine response. The town is in the process of hiring a community services coordinator who will also help residents find services. The position was approved at Town Meeting despite the Board of Selectmen and the Finance Committee remaining neutral. Armstrong said he hopes the agencies and leaders will collaborate further and form targeted alliances to cover precise needs among residents.
"It makes me feel better to know that people who are experiencing stress because of something that makes it difficult to make ends meet will get the word that the community is there for them," said Rosenzweig. "They don't have to go through this alone." 