Background on Amherst Friends for the Homeless
Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc. was a non-profit organization that was dissolutioned in 2017. The corporation set out to address homelessness, particularly for single women, in the Amherst area, incluing Hadley, Leverett, Northampton, Pelham, and Shutesbury. After an investigation done by the Social Concern Committee of the Unitarian-Universalist Society in there areas, there was a clear need for emergency shelter for homeless single women. With the efforts of the community, the organization aimed to open this emergency shelter for up tp 10 single women by November 1, 1989 for the upcomign winter. Under the direction of the Board of Directors, which was composed of seven members, committees started to fundraise, choosing the shelte site, and operating the shelter. Funraising efforts included mail solicitations, button sales, Amherst College raffles organized by student, a musical performance, a federal grant, and door-to-door solicitation which occured on October 22, 1989. Known as "Shelter Sunday," this door-to-door canvass raised $15,000 of the grand total of $26,245. Rosemary's Place, the shelter built, opened on December 11, 1989 as a two-bedroom apartment which provided a bed for four women total. After quickly filling those spaces and with a growing waiting list, Rosemary's Place was increased to four bedrooms to give beds to four more women for eight women total. The shelter was open seven days a week with a manager on duty the entire time. Volunteers would do the tasks of daily life, such as cleaning, laundry, and driving. Rosemary's Place eventually shut down in 1991 due to the opening of the Grove Street Inn in Northampton for both men and women. However, the corporation continued operation with Shelter Sunday for one Sunday in October. The proceeds were then distributed to the Amherst Survival Center, First Call for Help, Grove Street Inn, and Not Bread Alone. About 150 volunteers helped during Shelter Suday between organizing and soliciting. Volunteers came from UMass student organizations, Amherst religious communities, and the Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc. Shelter Sunday continued for years and was eventually moved to another local organization in 2014. There was no further use for the Amherst Friends for the Homeless, Inc. corporation and with no set future, it was dissolved in 2017 by the Attorney General voluntarily.
