Like other cities around the country that are experiencing chronic homelessness, Fall River has been participating in a national movement to end homelessness over a ten year period. Over the first five years of the project, plans have been put in place to address prevention, outreach, emergency shelter strategies, supportive services, and permanent supportive housing strategies. Another important step has been the recent establishment of a regional office for Bristol County charged with increasing resources for Fall River, Taunton/Attleboro and New Bedford. The mayor’s task force includes representatives of homeless service providers, the health care community, religious organizations, neighborhood organizations, consumers and law enforcement. The project is based on concepts developed by the Federal Interagency Council on Homelessness and the National Alliance to End Homelessness. Click here to see photos of the original group formation. For further information, contact Fall River Community Services Director Henry Vaillancourt, M.D. at 508-324-2404.
 

(Top row, left) HealthFirst Family Care Center executive director Julie Almond talks with Task Force co-chair Nicholas Christ, President and CEO of Citizens-Union Bank, before the meeting. (Top row, center) Lynne-Olsen-Vieira of the Corrigan Mental Health Center looks over a report that Mary Camara of the Community Development Agency hands to Rosa Medeiros of the First Step Inn. (Top row, right) Diane Gouveia of the Fall River Schools talks with Pastor Ben Borrego and Pastor John Hopkins of Homeless Conections. (Middle row, left) Tim McCoy of Fall River Schools introduces himself to Mayor Flanagan at the beginning of his first meeting with the Task Force. (Top row, right) Mayor Flanagan outlines his vision of the Task Force's mission. (Bottom row, right) Mayor Flanagan listens as Task Force co-chair Henry Vaillancourt, M.D., Director of Community Services for the City, describes some of the accomplishments of the group. (Other Task Force members not pictured include Nancy Lawson, Arlene McNamee and Susan Pacheco of Catholic Social Services; Attorney Arthur DeAscentis, Bob Horne of the United Way of Greater Fall River, Captain William Viveiros and Michael Duarte of the Fall River Police Department, David Weed of Healthy City Fall River, Kathleen Schedler-Clark of Steppingstone, Larry Lopes of Adult Probation, Reverend Matthew Stewart of the Church of the Holy Spirit, Paul Quinn of Saint Anne's Hospital, Ron Rusin of the Greater Fall River Association of Realtors, Susan Fauteux of the Department of Children and Families, and Thomas Collins of the Fall River Housing Authority.)

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