As of two weeks ago, all unhoused residents identified in the annual PIT count have secured shelter. 

In celebration, the town recognized Dartmouth Community Social Outreach Team members Amy DiPietro, director of the Council on Aging, and Matthew Dansereau, the town’s engagement coordinator. 

The annual PIT count, or point in time count, is used by the outreach team, and other groups nationally, to identify those who are unhoused in town to then connect those individuals with necessary resources.

According to Dansereau, 19 unhoused individuals were identified in town, and another seven that were Dartmouth residents either not in town or traveling around the area.

Select Board Chair Heidi Silva Brooks, “[Our] PIT count in January was alarming and it was so cold, and the members of the team would go out and make sure that folks knew their options of going into shelters.”

Thanking them for their work, she added, “The two of you, along with your team, have approached each campsite with reverence for the resident by showing compassion and grace. You developed a trust, which allowed the team to remain solution-focused.”

DiPietro emphasized the team effort it took to make this work happen, including the health department, a liaison from the police department and a youth advocate.

She also highlighted the knowledge Dansereau has provided to the community through his experience working with New Bedford nonprofits for about 30 years. 

Drawing from the experience, Dansereau said, “One of the things I tried to do was create a kind of one-stop place where anybody who is having a crisis or an issue in town can come, whether it’s homelessness, health insurance, public benefits — all types of stuff.”

He added, “I would also like to thank the Select Board and everybody in town who supported it also.”