Montachusett Opportunity Council (MOC) is a large organization that provides housing and innumerable other community services to the North Worcester County area. The housing and programs operate with the goal of individuals and families becoming independent and self-sufficient, a goal of permanence. Bill Minkle, Deputy Director of Planning and Development at MOC, says that he lives by the saying “give a man a fish, he eats for a day. Teach a man to fish, he eats for life”. Minkle states that the programs at MOC are always changing, modified by the needs of the clients.

Success at MOC is defined by a family reaching their specific goals, such as getting a job, completing school, or saving money. The success rate is between 60-80%, and it differs each month. MOC’s success is mostly derived from the personalization of the program, and the innovative programs it designs.

Housing

There are 22 units of supportive housing run by MOC. 16 units are in the North County Leased Housing program, and 6 units are in the Greater Gardener Supportive Housing program. Most of the units are family units, with 2 being reserved for chronic homelessness cases. Four of the units are “ProHealth” units, which are for HIV positive or AIDS patients. There is heavy case management for these cases as well as transportation. All of the supportive housing programs provide services such as case management, referral, MOC internal resources, GED, workforce development, food pantry, and other programs.

The issues that are the most predominant to the supportive housing program are substance abuse, and mental health issues. There is a large disabled population, and with this comes great needs for certain services. In order to enter the programs, individuals and families must be homeless or at risk of homelessness and disabled. There is no sobriety requirement. Most families and individuals stay for between a year and three years. The goal is for families to move into permanent housing, have a stable income, and become self-sufficient.

The most prevalent barriers keeping MOC clients homeless are inadequate income, CORI forms, and credit history. Issues of mental illness and substance abuse can be obstacles on a daily basis. Another large problem in Fitchburg is that there are not enough shelters. As a result, people are living doubled-up in housing. Therefore “the definition of homelessness leaves out a huge population of people” states Bill Minkle, “a temporary roof doesn’t mean you are housed. The current definition needs to be rewritten to define and solve the problem. Right now it makes the problem look smaller than it is”. This HUD definition of homelessness has a large impact on the distribution of Section 8 vouchers.

The new “Transitions at Devons” transitional housing program is a joint venture with Our Fathers House. There are approximately 16 units, and has just opened in Fall 2006. The program, includes housing and supportive services. Our Fathers House runs the housing program, while MOC provides the case work and services. This venture rehabbed a more ineffective shelter and made it into family units.

Community Services and Programs

The number of community programs provided through MOC is ever growing. They can be broken into five main divisions; Headstart and Childcare, Community Services, the Pro- Health division, Elder services, and Energy and Environmental services. Many services are provided out of the MOC Learning Center which is on Main St. in the center of town. The programs serve families and individuals with substance abuse or mental health issues.

 MOC provides many neighborhood and community programs. There are several new initiatives being developed, such as the “Neighborhoods and You” program. The program started with 6 of the Fitchburg neighborhoods, that decided to work together to improve quality of life and become safer. The groups are described by Minkle as “huge coalitions, with many different cross sections of people”. The people are excited and involved and are already making a difference.

The MOC Headstart program has developed a new program called “Montachusett Moms on the Move” which is a program that targets the health of mothers and their children. The program has cooking, eating, and exercise programs for the families. These new and innovative programs are tailored to the needs of the clients, which makes them extremely effective.