Fitchburg nonprofit to close two shelters, layoff 20 staff
Human services provider Making Opportunity Count will lay off 20 employees by April 30 as the Fitchburg-based nonprofit will shutter two of its shelter locations.
The layoffs will be evenly split amongst employees at MOC's Westminster and Acton shelters, according Worker Adjustment and Retraining Act notices filed Friday with the MassHire Department of Career Services. MOC was not able to confirm the exact locations of the shelters due to safety and privacy protections, except that they are in Acton and Westminster.
“Making Opportunity Count employs over 550 staff members across a wide range of programs. While two shelters are scheduled to close on April 30, we are actively working to place affected employees in other available positions within the organization. At this time, we do not have a confirmed overall impact on staffing,” MOC Executive Director Kevin Reed wrote in an email to WBJ.
The shelter closures are part of a larger Massachusetts effort to reduce Emergency Assistance shelter slots connected to hotels, said Reed.
“Our priority remains ensuring continuity of services and supporting both our employees and the communities we serve,” he wrote.
With 325 local employees, MOC is tied as the 116th largest employer in Central Massachusetts when ranked by local employees by WBJ’s Research Department using data from WBJ’s 2023 survey.
In 2023, MOC generated $53.38 million in annual revenue and held $34.84 million in assets, according to nonprofit financial tracker GuideStar.
Founded in 1966, MOC aims to alleviate the effects of poverty and promote economic security by offering child care, education, workforce development, nutrition, and health services, according to the nonprofit’s website.
MOC offers re-housing services case management to eligible families residing in family shelter facilities through housing searches, budget planning, and referrals. Families continue to receive case management services once they’re secured housing outside of the shelter.
In addition, the organization provides permanent supportive housing and case management to unhoused disabled families in North Central Massachusetts through its supportive housing program.
Mica Kanner-Mascolo is a staff writer at Worcester Business Journal, who primarily covers the healthcare and diversity, equity, and inclusion industries.
WBJ Web Partners
Most Recent
Most Recent
0 Comments