Updated Listings of New Haven Soup Kitchens & Food Pantries

Under the Basic Needs section to the right of this blog, please note documents listing New Haven soup kitchens and food pantries.

Thank you.

Resources for Homeless Veterans

As you know, the recent federal push to end veteran homelessness has brought tremendous resources to Connecticut for veterans. In fact, we have the resources to house all veterans experiencing homelessness in the state -- but we need your help to make sure that all homeless or at-risk veterans are quickly and efficiently referred to these programs.

In cooperation with the Connecticut Heroes Project, we've put together a one-page information sheet to help providers navigate the main resources available to veterans. The sheet provides information on referring to VA services, and to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) rapid-rehousing program. Download the referral sheet now.

Please note that SSVF is administered by four grantees in the state, one of which has been assigned as the principal point of contact for each of your agencies. A list of these pairings is available online and in PDF format. (If your agency was inadvertently left off this list, feel free to contact any SSVF provider.)

See ctheroesproject.org/referrals for more information, as well as for customized sheets with the contact information for your SSVF partner agency. Thank you for your help in quickly connecting veterans to these incredible resources!

Questions? Please write to referrals@ctheroesproject.org.

Updates To The Universal Housing Application

We have updated three documents which you will be able to access through the blog under the section to the right called "DOCUMENTS."  They are:

1. Universal Referral Form
2. Waitlist Information for each supportive housing program
3. Provider Matrix

The Universal Referral Form serves as the application for the following programs: 

Fellowship

• Fellowship Commons
• Fellowship Commons Westville

The Connection, Inc.

• West Village
• Robert T.
• Ruppoulo Supportive Housing

Liberty Community Services

• Independent Living Program
• Next Step Initiative
• SSafe Havenupportive  Living Program

Dept. of Mental Health & Addiction Services

• New Haven Shelter Plus Care

New Haven Home Recovery

• New Haven Family Partnership
• Supportive Housing Program

Columbus House

• HUD Scattered Sites
• HUD VET Scattered Sites
• Sojourners
• Scattered Site HOPWA

Continuum of Care

• McQueeney Towers
• MHT Collaborative
• Housing First

 Changes to the Universal Referral Form include: 

• The Greater New Haven Regional Alliance to End Homelessness has changed its name to Greater New Haven Opening Doors (p. 1)
• The Release of Information has been changed to reflect programs that have been removed or consolidated.

The Waitlist Information document lists the contact information for each program and whether the program is accepting applications.

The Provider Matrix details eligibility criteria for each program.

Changes to the Provider Matrix include:

• Additional Agency & Program contact information
• Clearer eligibility guidelines related to homeless and disability verifications
• Some program names have been removed or consolidated

General Information about the Screening & Referral Form for Permanent Supportive Housing

Starting in March 2013, several New Haven housing providers began accepting the same referral form in order to reduce the number of individual referrals needed to access permanent supportive housing programs. 

Please refer to the attached Provider Housing Matrix to determine which Permanent Supported Housing Programs are using the application.  The matrix also will help you identify the eligibility requirements of a program, and the contact person for the program.  In order to be eligible for any of these programs, a person must be homeless or have a qualifying disability according to individual program guidelines.  However, you will need to refer to the specific eligibility criteria for each program.

You will need to submit an application to each individual agency/program to which you are interested in applying.  Agencies will continue to follow their own waitlist guidelines and procedures. Not all programs listed have open waitlists currently.  You will need to contact each individual program if you have any questions about the referral process or waitlist. 

As of January 4, 2012, the Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “Homelessness” as:

• Literally homeless – An individual or family who lacks a fixed, regular and adequate nighttime residence, meaning the individual or family has a primary nighttime residence that is a public or private place not meant for human habitation or is living in a publicly or privately operated shelter designed to provide temporary living arrangements.  This category also includes individuals who are exiting an institution where he or she resided for 90 days or less who resided in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation immediately prior to entry into the institution.
• Imminent Risk of Homelessness – an individual or family who will imminently lose (within 14 days) their primary nighttime residence provided that no subsequent residence has been identified and the individual or family lacks the resources or support networks needed to obtain other permanent housing.
• Homeless under other Federal Statutes – unaccompanied youth (under 25) or families with children and youth who do not otherwise qualify as homeless under this definition and are defined as homeless under another federal statute, have not had permanent housing during the past 60 days, have experience persistent instability, and can be expected to continue in such status for an extended period of time.
• Fleeing/Attempting to Flee DV – any individual or family who is fleeing, or attempting to flee, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, or stalking.

As of January 19, 2011, the Department of Housing and Urban Development defines “Chronic Homelessness” as:

“A person is an unaccompanied homeless individual with a disabling condition, or a family with at least one adult member who has a disabling condition, who has been either continuously homeless for a year or more OR has had at least four (4) episodes of homelessness in the past three (3) years.  An episode of homelessness is a separate, distinct, and sustained stay in a place not meant for human habitation, on the streets, in an emergency homeless shelter and/or in a HUD-defined Safe Haven.  A chronically homeless person must be disabled during each episode.” 

-If you have already submitted an application, you do not need to resubmit an application to any of the programs-

Affordable Care Act - Enroll in a Plan

When should I enroll?

You can enroll anytime from now to March 31, 2014. Coverage will begin on January 1, 2014 for those who enroll by December 15, 2013.

How do I enroll?

There are several easy ways to enroll. You can meet with us face-to-face, call us or apply online.
(You can also print a summary of this.)

• Visit an Enrollment Center
• Go to an Enrollment Fair
• Call 855-805-432
• Enroll Online

What information do I need to provide?

When you apply for coverage, you’ll need to provide some information about yourself and each member of your household who is enrolling. Save time by gathering this information beforehand.

• Birthdates
• Social Security Numbers (or document numbers for legal immigrants)
• Citizenship or immigration status
• Tax returns for previous years
• Employer and income info (pay stubs, W-2 forms)
• Policy Numbers For any current health insurance and information about employer-sponsored coverage you or someone in your household is eligible for.

Who can help me enroll?

Find an Assister in New Haven to help you enroll in a plan:
https://www.accesshealthct.com/AHCT/AssistanceSearch.action

A Conversation about Homeless and Runaway Youth

New Content Added

We have added new content for your convenience.  Please look under the Benefits section to the right.  We have added the Husky/LIA/Charter Health Insurance application, SNAP application and a description of medicaid eligibility expansion in 2014.

Thank you!

You are invited!

YouthContinuum presents When 8 am - 3 pm Friday, November 1, 2013 Add to Calendar Where Southern Connecticut State University Adanti Student Center 345 Fitch Street New Haven, CT Credits Continuing Education credits will be available from National Association of Social Workers (NASW) and Connecticut Association of Marriage and Family Therapy (CAMFT). Dear Colleague, Youth Continuum invites you to participate in our conference, The Unfinished Brain: Crisis and Opportunity in Adolescent Neuroscience, taking place on November 1, 2013 at the Southern Connecticut State University's Adanti Student Center . The Unfinished Brain will convene national experts from the scientific, education, psychology and social work disciplines to present the principles of neuroscience and trauma against a backdrop of their implications for the front-line practitioner. Breakfast and lunch will also be served. Workshops will integrate neuroscience concepts into programmatic structure and treatment interventions.  Emphasis will be placed on the application to vulnerable youth populations. Participants will gain knowledge of leading-edge strategies and frameworks for developing outcome driven youth services. Space is limited. To reserve your spot, please make a reservation by following the link below.  Thank you!  We look forward to seeing you there.  Get more information Register Now! I can't make it If you have any questions, please feel free contact us using the information below. Thank you for the work you do and we hope to see you at the conference! Sincerely, Carole Shomo, CEO Youth Continuum Youth Continuum cmercado@youthcontinuum.org 203-562-3396 Ext. 16

Affordable Care Act - Enrollment Has Begun

The Affordable Care Act

·     The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), otherwise known as “Obamacare,” enacted in March 2010, introduced a series of reforms to expand health insurance coverage by:

*  Expanding Medicaid eligibility and

*  Establishing health insurance exchanges or market places.

·      In CT, the insurance marketplace is called “Access Health CT”. The marketplace will offer approved health insurance plans to individuals, families and small business. Eligible consumers may qualify for discounts in the form of tax credits.

·        Enrollment Period: Those who enroll in the first enrollment period, Oct. 2013-Mar 2014, will have coverage effective January 2014.

There are several Assisters in New Haven. 

We will share their contact information as we learn it.

For more information about enrollment and what information you must have to sign up for a health care plan, Click Here.

You may visit the AccessHealthCT website at:  AccessHealthCT

Rapid Re-housing Works in Connecticut

Where are they now?

Three years later, did Rapid Re-housing work in Connecticut?   

Rapid Re-housing is short-term financial assistance and services such as case management, outreach, and housing search for individuals and families who are in emergency shelter or on the streets and need temporary assistance in order to obtain and retain housing.   Rapid Re-housing does not meet the needs of every person experiencing homelessness, but is an important option for many.

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act’s Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing (HPRP) Program allowed providers in Connecticut to greatly expand Rapid Re-housing services in 2010.  Under HPRP, and in three years, just under three million dollars went toward Rapid Re-housing services for 3,100 people in over 1,600 households.  In 2013, we can look back on this data to consider the questions: Was that money well spent? Did those people return to shelter?



Rapid Re-housing Works in Connecticut.
Since Connecticut clients received Rapid Re-housing services through HPRP, only a small number have returned to shelter.  These results are consistent with Rapid Re-housing outcomes across the nation. [2]  Rapid Re-housing appears to be especially successful for families with children in Connecticut.

Three years after receiving Rapid Re-housing, eighty-two percent (82%) of singles have not returned to a Connecticut shelter. For families, the result is 95%.

At the two year post-exit mark, almost 90% of singles and 94% of families had not returned to shelter.


The graph below illustrates the percent of singles and persons in families that returned to shelter after exiting from Rapid Re-housing services in 2010, 2011, and 2012. [3]

After Exiting the Program, How Many Rapid Re-housing Recipients had not returned to shelter in Connecticut  [4]

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¹ National Alliance to End Homelessness, Rapid Re-Housing: Creating Programs that Work, http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/rapid-re-housing-creating-programs-that-work

² United States Interagency Council, Emerging Research Indicates Rapid Re-Housing Sets Up for Success, Katharine Gale, Policy Director, August 2013. http://www.usich.gov/media_center/blog/RRH_research

³ Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, CT HPRP Returns to Shelter report, Connecticut Homelessness Management Information System (CT HMIS), August 2013.

⁴ Results show returns to shelter after varying lengths of time “at risk” for return.  Those exiting in 2012 were measured at 9 months post-exit while those exiting in 2010 were measured some 3 years post-exit.  This means that it is possible to compare Family/Individual returns within but not across exit cohort years.

Additional Resources

Anderson, Lindsay. (2013). Ending Family Homelessness. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.   http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/4.1-integrating-rapid-Re-housing-and-employment-strategies-for-families

Batko, Samantha. (2013, May 21). Data Points: Rapid Re-Housing Works. National Alliance to End Homelessness. http://www.endhomelessness.org/blog/entry/data-points-rapid-re-housing-works#.UgaVk2RgaRk

Burden, Jamey. (2013). Basics of Rapid Re-Housing. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.  http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/1.1-basics-of-rapid-Re-housing

Byrne, Thomas. (2013). The National Center on Homelessness Among Veterans, Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing: Housing Outcomes of Veterans Exiting the Supportive Services for Veterans Families (SSVF) Program. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.  http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/2.1-emerging-research-on-rapid-rehousing

Fetzer-Rice, Beth. (2013). Basics of Rapid Re-Housing. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.  http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/1.1-basics-of-rapid-Re-housing

Cotter, Meghann. (2013). Micah Ecumenical Ministries: Housing the ‘Un-Houseable: Using Relationship-Based Service Models to Rapidly Re-Housing Single Adults. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.  http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/5.1-rapid-rehousing-models-for-single-adults

Foster, Sage B. (2010) Rapid Re-Housing Program, HPRP Innovative Strategies for Housing Single Adults. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 12-14, 2010, Washington, D.C.  http://fr.slideshare.net/naehomelessness/53-rapid-rehousing-for-single-adults-foster

Housing Innovations. (2012, November 19). Homelessness Resolution Strategy: Rochester and Monroe County Final Report. City of Rochester, N.Y. http://www.cityofrochester.gov/WorkArea/DownloadAsset.aspx?id=8589956335

Rodriguez, Jason. (2013). Georgia Department of Community Affairs: Rapid Re-Housing and Homelessness Recurrence in Georgia.  National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C. http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/2.1-emerging-research-on-rapid-rehousing

Taylor, Jamie Vanasse & Pratt-Roebuck, Katrina. (2013). Cloudburst Consulting Group & Office of Supportive Housing and the City of Philadelphia: Evaluating Philadelphia’s Rapid Re-Housing Impacts on Housing Stability and Income. National Alliance to End Homelessness Conference: July 22-24, 2013, Washington, D.C.  http://www.endhomelessness.org/library/entry/2.1-emerging-research-on-rapid-rehousing

U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. (2013, May 6). Building the Bridge to the Future: Lessons Learned from HPRP. YouTube HUD Channel. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GzTFg5iuOyc