NEW HAVEN, Conn. — The housing crisis continues to impact people all across Connecticut. Because of it, many are without a home this winter.
In New Haven, the city is opening a new warming center to meet that demand. It’s at the old Strong Elementary School at 130 Orchard St.
“It’s going to be a very cold winter. And we don’t want, right now, you can die,” said Pastor Valerie Washington, the director at the Orchard St. Warming Center.
The center is outfitted with just over 40 yoga mats, which sit on the floor of the gym inside the mainly unused school. People can visit from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m. for a place to rest, eat, drink, socialize, and get connected to community resources.
“I really want them to feel like, even though it’s not home, but like a place like home,” Washington said.
Those working at the center not only have experience in the field, but some have experienced what it’s like to not have a place to call home.
“I was homeless when I was 15, and I didn’t understand the resources that we have today. So, when I’m here with them, my greatest thing for them is like, take advantage of it,” said Delana Lawrence, assistant director at the warming center.
Lawrence’s main goal is to get people out of their temporary situation, and into a permanent home.
“We’re here for a stepping ground to help you get on your feet, but only let this be a stepping ground,” Lawrence said.
The new center is one of three that’ll be open for the winter. It’s a direct response to the growing demand from people looking for housing.
“They just continue to increase. You know it’s like, post-pandemic, I mean, it’s endless,” said Velma George-James, coordinator for the homeless in New Haven.
George-James said, right now, about 270 people are without a home in the greater New Haven area. Many of them are older individuals from Black and brown communities, a trend George-James said she’s seen in recent years.
“We’re talking about people who worked all their lives, had a pension, but their pension wasn’t able to keep up with the cost of living,” George-James said. “Our goal is to be able to provide more for individuals and families. and not just a yoga mat in a gym.”
That gym, she said, is still better than being out in the cold. It’s a place where the staff hope to treat everyone who comes in like family.
Along with increasing affordable housing throughout the city, New Haven leaders are also putting the finishing touches on a hotel on Foxon Blvd, which will house the homeless.
The two other warming centers, also open 7 days a week from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., are The 180 Center, located at 438 East St., and Varick Memorial A.M.E. Zion Church, located at 242 Dixwell Ave.
There is also a list of shelters that can be found at newhavenct.gov/homeless -- and space can be accessed by calling 2-1-1, the State of Connecticut’s Coordinated Access Networks (CAN).
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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