Kevin Brown's remarks at the 11th Annual Walk to End Homelessness were humbling -- and inspiring. Mohegan Sun was the Walk's lead sponsor.
"There's a basic important thing
going on here,
and that is,
we are taking care
of each other."
Kevin Brown
Chair of the Mohegan Tribe
April 22, 2018
2017-18 at a Glance
Everybody deserves a second chance. Losing a job, struggling with an addiction disorder or coming out of prison shouldn't doom you to a dead end.
We continue to be there for people coping with these and a wide variety of other challenges. In the year ending June 30, 2018, we
sheltered 540 people and served almost 750 in total. They included individuals on the verge of homelessness; we helped them find a solution that avoided a shelter stay.
A few other highlights from the year:
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We can't say it enough: the solution to homelessness is housing. Last year we helped more than 100 people with rent and security deposits for apartments.
Cathy Zall
HHC's Executive Director
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We have broken ground on an addition that will expand our healthcare services, thanks to a $200,000 gift from the Edward & Mary Lord Foundation and support from the Connecticut Department of Housing.
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Our unique Help Center, which is charged with actively helping people advance their plans to exit homelessness, got a major boost from an anonymous gift.
Here, we want to share some other highlights from the year and take a look ahead. Thank you for helping us provide not just shelter, but hospitality and real hope.
P.S. -- We offer regular tours of our site and hope you will visit.
58%
of the people we
served were with us less than 30 days.
71%
left us for housing or a treatment program.
740
people came to us for help, including 540 who were admitted to the shelter. We assisted others in different ways.
Raphael: Surviving
a catastrophic divorce
Raphael had never been homeless. But when he got divorced recently he lost everything -- including his job and home.
Through HHC's partnership with WeWork2, Raphael was hired as a manger at Walmart and began saving for housing.
He soon found a great new apartment with the help of his case manager, and moved out of the shelter.
His advice to others? "Do your best to let go of the past and focus on what's next."
Better healthcare for those who often need
it most, thanks to Lord gift and State support
Poor health and homelessness go hand in hand. It's hard to be healthy when you're under stress and living outdoors or in temporary quarters.
Our seven-bed respite unit and an adjacent clinic are the answers, but we haven't had enough space to meet demand. Last year we had 100 respite guests; we expect to have 125 next year.
Thanks to a $200,000 gift from the Edward & Mary Lord Foundation and additional support from the Connecticut Department of Housing, we have broken ground on an addition that will let us create more privacy and provide better service.
"As the Lord Trustees considered the grant application of HHC, we reflected back to the days
when we ourselves faced recuperation and a healing atmosphere in which to convalesce from hospitalizations or other health scares," said Kathryn Lord, director of the foundation.
Artist's rendering of the addition that would house an expanded respite area on the lower level and new Help Center upstairs. More images.
"We imagined trying to do so in a non-private, noisy and possibly chaotic surrounding. We realized that helping to create a calm, caring and healing atmosphere within the HHC facility was a perfect fit with the Mission of the Lord Foundation."
She added, "We know that once completed, the respite area will ease suffering, promote recovery to good health and replace despair with dignity.”
HHC works with Lawrence + Memorial Hospital, the Visiting Nurse Association of Southeastern Connecticut and the Community Health Center to provide care.
Thank you!
Your support is making a difference -- we see the proof every day. Some 2017-18 highlights:
VOLUNTEERS
More than 400 people donated thousands of hours of service.
They worked with shelter guests in the Help Center, staffed the front desk, managed the clothing closet, sorted donations at our thrift store, did gardening and led activities in the evening.
Volunteers from the Naval Submarine Base in Groton helped make sure the annual Walk to End Homelesssness went smoothly in April.
About 100 also gave us a hand for special projects and events, including the Annual Walk to End Homelessness.
Learn more, and mail volunteer@nlhhc.org to see how you can help.
FUNDRAISING
575 individuals and businesses made gifts totaling more than $250,000. View a list of our major funders.
Dozens of people helped by launching creative and heartfelt Crowdrise and Facebook fundraisers that saw thousands of dollars in donations.
The Walk to End Homelessness drew more than 350 walkers and raised $35,000, up from $10,700 in 2015.
ADVOCACY
Volunteers spoke on our behalf at municipal budget hearings, held sock and toiletries drives for us and invited us to speak to their members about homelessness.
We'd love to talk to your group. Email info@nlhhc.org to set it up.
There's a reason why
they call it the Help Center
What does it take for someone to get back into housing?
It can be as simple as $15 to get an ID that opens the door to Social Security benefits, or car repairs that make it possible for someone to drive to work.
Our Help Center is there to help guests figure it out and get things moving.
In 2017-18 we received an anonymous multi-year gift that strengthens this unique program. The Help Center also will benefit from a new, larger location in an addition now under construction.
The Help Center helps virtually every guest who comes through our doors.
It also is used regularly by former guests and by others in need. It is staffed largely by volunteers. They contribute more than 1,000 hours every year.
Ada, manager of our
Help Center
Who did we serve in 2017-18?
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54% of our guests had a substance use disorder
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67% reported mental health issues
- 47% had a chronic health condition
- 33% were victims of domestic violence
- 15% had a developmental disability
- 60% had no income