ATHOL – Last week, the Downtown Vitality Committee spoke with Police Chief Craig Lundgren about concerns they have regarding people using the long-closed municipal parking garage of off Exchange and South streets as a temporary shelter.

Lundgren said that for a variety of reasons, he is hesitant to make people leave that location who may be homeless.

Melissa Desreuisseau, who is calling the garage home – for now – said the worries of local business owners and residents are unnecessary.

“This town needs a shelter,” Desreuisseau said.

On the day the Athol Daily News spoke with Desreuisseau, there were three other people sitting in lawn chairs or on the ground, trying to stay as comfortable as possible in the midday heat. All said they had been using the garage for shelter since May. Desreuisseau said they are there because they have no home to go to, but there are others who live nearby who will come to sit in the shade of the garage, as they don’t have air conditioning in their apartments or rooms.

Even with more people around, she said, there is rarely any trouble – and she tries to keep it that way.

“The cops come here,” Desreuisseau said. “They don’t give us trouble. I keep it quiet. If people get out of line, we toss them out, make them go away.”

Regarding complaints of trash, she said, “We pick up everything; day and night, I’m always picking up the trash. There’s an older guy in a black car – he comes by in the morning and picks up the trash. Yeah, we pick it all up. If I had a push broom, I’d pick up the cigarette butts.”

Echoing Lundgren’s attitude, Darlene Smialek said, “We stay here at night. The cops would rather have us here than somewhere else.”

Then, with emphasis, Desreuisseau added, “We don’t really bother anybody out here – at all.”

Asked if they contacted local social service agencies to find more permanent shelter, all responded in the affirmative, including George Farinella, who said he was having a hard time finding work due to having PTSD. Farinella said he has been homeless since October.

“I’ve done everything,” said a patient Desreuisseau. “It’s just going to take time.”

“It’s not going to happen overnight,” echoed Smialek. “It takes a lot of time. We’re hoping to have something by the end of August or September.”

Asked about the main cause of homelessness in the area, Desreuisseau said cost is the biggest factor. Farinella added that much of the available housing is reserved for seniors of those with a disability.

“A one-bedroom for $1,300? That’s a lot of money for a one-bedroom,” she said. “Who can afford that?”

Desreuisseau said homelessness in the area has long been a problem but, since the development of North Quabbin Commons shopping center, it has gotten worse, as more people moved to the area, taking up the limited housing.

While shelters would help the situation, Farinella said many don’t want to go there because it makes them uncomfortable.

“We don’t feel safe…we don’t feel safe staying there,” Farinella said.

So for now, these four will continue – if they’re allowed – to call the downtown parking garage home. Desreuisseau and Smialek both said they are on the waiting list of the Athol Housing Authority and have filled out Transitional Assistance Management Program and Residential Assistance for Families in Transition applications, as well as others. Farinella said he’s also pursuing housing options.

“I’ve been in the town for 43 years,” said Desreuisseau. “Things are definitely worse than they were back then.”

Greg Vine can be reached at gvineadn@aol.com.