homelessness

Westport Lifestyle, “The First Step to Housing Stability: Eat.”

The rising cost of food, compounded by Fairfield County’s cost of living being significantly higher than the state average and rising (Nation Low Income Housing Coalition), means that people in our surrounding towns are suffering. In many cases, families are having to decide between food or rent. “Making choices about food or rent in one …

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WSHU’s The Full Story: Staying Housed and Healthy

During the height of the pandemic, federal funding, eviction moratoriums, and housing services helped individuals and families who were at extreme risk of losing a secure place to live.  Today those support systems are gone.  Affordable housing is scarce in our region, and, in Connecticut, the number of people who don’t have homes is on …

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Norwalk’s approach to ending homelessness could be model for rest of CT

No municipality in the country has ended all forms of homelessness… But that’s exactly what Norwalk is trying to do. Not just for youth, not just for veterans, not just for individuals – for everyone. And it may become a model for the rest of the state, according to officials from Opening Doors Fairfield County. “We’re …

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Evictions could top pre-COVID numbers, hit vulnerable communities hardest

Evictions are devastating, and increasing rents across the state are making it harder for our neighbors to be able to stay in their homes. “Average rents in Connecticut have increased by more than 15% year over year… Meanwhile, more than 50% of renters are cost-burdened, or pay more than 30% of their income on housing costs.” Connecticut …

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Open Doors outreach workers Samm Williams and JP Rossi visit a train station to connect with people who are living outdoors

Outreach workers seek out homeless CT residents in annual count

Each year, homeless service providers across the country coordinate a Point In Time (PIT) count.  Typically, volunteers go out and survey people experiencing unsheltered homelessness for that one day. However, the methodology had to change due to safety concerns. Outreach case managers Samm Williams and JP Rossi were among the outreach teams and homeless specialists …

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Saving lives: How emergency shelters plan to keep CT’s homeless out of the cold this winter

Emergency shelters across the state are working together to keep people safe through cold weather and continued health challenges. “Shelter really does truly save lives, particularly in the winter,” said Michele Conderino, the executive director of Open Doors in Norwalk. “It’s such a critical service.” Learn more at: https://www.thehour.com/news/article/Saving-lives-How-emergency-shelters-plan-to-keep-16739330.php

Open Doors executive director Michele Conderino and News12 team in emergency shelter dorm

Connecticut’s homeless shelters still facing challenges of COVID-19

Emergency shelters are still facing the challenges of keeping people safe through COVID, and providers need the support of the community and our elected officials to help people through the winter months.  News 12 Connecticut spoke with our executive director, Michele Conderino, about some of these challenges. https://connecticut.news12.com/connecticut-s-homeless… Please help advocate for your neighbors dealing …

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