Habitat for Humanity taking applications for three homes

NORTHAMPTON — Pioneer Valley Habitat for Humanity is accepting applications for three affordable, three-bedroom, single-family homes to be built in Northampton.

The application deadline is March 8. Eligible applicants must have incomes up to 60% of area median income, adjusted for family size.

People interested in submitting an application are invited to attend one of the following virtual meetings: Saturday, Jan. 28, at 10 a.m.; Monday, Feb. 13, at 6 p.m.; or Wednesday, March 1, at 6 p.m.

During the information sessions, potential applicants will learn about Habitat’s selection criteria and how to prepare an application. The selection criteria will include housing need, the ability to make mortgage payments of $700-$1,200 a month, and a willingness to partner with Habitat, such as participating in the construction of the home and other projects. More information can be found at pvhabitat.org/apply/.

All homes will be all-electric and built to Energy Star standards. Two homes will be two-story and one home will be one-story; the one-story home will be adaptable for someone with mobility impairments. All Habitat built homes are restricted to income-eligible buyers in perpetuity.

 

Museum invites female, nonbinary artists to submit for Women’s History Month show

HOLYOKE — Wistariahurst Museum seeks submissions from artists who identify as female or nonbinary in a celebratory show for Women’s History Month in March.

The theme, “The Body/The Self,” asks artists to submit works that grapple with the relationship between the body and the self. The physical body is often policed or politicized, especially for women and those who don’t fit a binary concept of gender. Artists should consider how their artwork engages the relationship between the physical and the conceptual body and self.

Artists are asked to submit three to four works that will address the theme in any medium. Artists are also required to submit a biography of 150 words and an artist statement of 300 words. The statement must include a narrative of how their submitted works follow the show’s theme. In art submissions, include the work’s title, date, medium and size. Submissions need to be in PDF format with the artist statement first and with each work on its own page. Submissions are due Feb. 13, at 5 p.m. to roldanj@holyoke.org.

The jury will be made up of museum staff, local artists, and a community member. The jury will select four to five artists to show in March. Each participant will receive a $100 stipend for their participation.

Money coming to Northampton for COVID homeless care

BOSTON — Northampton is one of five communities in Massachusetts that will receive money from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for the costs of providing outpatient care sites to homeless populations during the COVID pandemic.

FEMA will send more than $7.3 million in reimbursement money to the commonwealth. The funds are for setting up and operating isolation and recovery sites for homeless individuals who contracted COVID between April 2020 and May 2021.

By contracting temporary nursing staff to monitor the health, safety, and welfare of homeless individuals at these sites, they served to reduce capacity pressures on hospitals, since hospitals could safely discharge stable COVID-positive homeless individuals to these sites.

1.5M meals donated to food banks from Big Y

SPRINGFIELD — Big Y’s annual Sack Hunger campaign provided 1.5 million meals to four food banks within its two-state area. In turn, these food banks support local soup kitchens, food pantries, senior food programs, day care centers and many others of the 2,100 member agencies that they help every day.

For $5, customers supported Sack Hunger at Big Y’s 72 supermarkets or Table & Vine Fine Wines and Liquors. Every $5 donation brings 10 meals to those in need of support. Big Y’s Sack Hunger campaign started in 2010, when 740 meals were donated. With this year’s 1.5 million meals, the program continues to grow in support of those in need.

The four regional food banks included the Food Bank of Western Massachusetts.

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