Groups Work Together Against Homelessness

A coalition of service organizations is forming a united front as they seek to address homelessness in New Bedford.

The group, known as the New Bedford Homeless Service Providers Network, went to the tent city behind the Save-A-Lot Plaza Tuesday night and met with the residents to discuss what obstacles and challenges they are facing.

Rev. David Lima, Executive Director of the Inter-Church Council, says the goal isn't just to help the homeless, but to identify what issues are keeping them homeless, and address them so they can transition back into society.

"Our idea is to enable people not just to be where they are, but to empower them to get into some assistance that will get them back on their feet," said Lima.

The network is made of various groups and, by working together, Lima says they are able to pool their resources and provide people living in that area with the individual services they may need.

"These are all people that are working on the street level but now we're working even closer together," said Lima "if this person needs this that's the person you need to talk to. That's the whole idea, fitting the right place with the person for what they need."

One of the biggest needs is making sure these people have proper documentation.

"ID's, birth certificates, different things that for us would be common, if somebody goes for any kind of service you need to have something like that," said Lima "well when you've been out on the streets for a long period of time you're lucky to have the clothes on your back and food to eat.

Rev Lima says the program is in the pilot stage at the moment, but they hope to expand this initiative to other Southcoast communities.