20.046 An Order to Approve Gift Fund Expenditures for Resilience HubCITY OF NORTHAMPTON
MASSACHUSETTS
In City Council, April 16, 2020
Upon the recommendation of the Mayor
20.046 An Order to Approve Gift Fund Expenditures for Resilience Hub
Whereas, one of the key service gap recommendations of the 2019 Mayor’s Work Group on
Panhandling Study Report (A Downtown Northampton for Everyone: Residents, Visitors,
Merchants, and People At-Risk) was the creation of a community day center to serve
Northampton’s at-risk population; and
Whereas, in line with that recommendation and concurrent with Northampton’s climate
resiliency efforts, the city is exploring creation of a resilience hub and day program to support
vulnerable residents facing chronic and acute stress due to climate change and other disasters,
and social and economic challenges; and
Whereas, during normal times a resilience hub would serve those at the frontline of chronic
stress (i.e. frontline communities, including homeless, Single Room Occupancy (SRO) residents,
those living in extreme poverty, and climate vulnerable populations) and possibly other
community needs; and
Whereas, the resilience hub will be designed, however, so that during times of acute stress or
major disruption (e.g. a major storm event, disaster, or pandemic) and during the recovery phase,
it can serve all residents; and
Whereas, preliminary community discussions of this resilience hub concept as part of the city’s
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) Action Plan development have created
significant interest and already inspired two substantial donations to support the effort.
Ordered that, Northampton City Council in accordance with Massachusetts General Law
Chapter 44, Section 53 A (Grants and gifts; acceptance and expenditure) authorizes the
expenditure of funds donated by the public to be used for the ongoing planning and potential
implementation of a resilience hub and day program to support Northampton residents who face
chronic and acute stress due to climate change and other disasters, and social and economic
challenges.