Services to the Homeless

The City of New Haven provides a safety net of supports and services for the City’s most fragile or vulnerable citizens, including homeless singles and families. Unique to the State, New Haven allocates resources from its' General Fund for homeless sheltering and support services for the greater New Haven population. The City also hosts an annual fundraiser "Tent City on The Green" to raise funds and awareness on issues related to homelessness.

HOMELESS ADVISORY COMMISSION:

The purpose of the Homeless Advisory Commission is to provide advice to the Mayor and the Board of Aldermen concerning the problems of homeless individuals and families and to make recommendations as to proposed solutions.The membership of the Commission includes providers of homeless services, homeless and recently homeless representatives, homeless advocates, citizen members from the community-at-large, city departments and representatives of the Board of Aldermen, with staffing provided by the Citys Community Services Administration. Members are recommended by the Mayor and approved by the full Board of Aldermen.

The Commission was established and seated in October 1999. Under the leadership of its Chair, Gary F. Spinner, the Commission meets monthly and has accomplished the following:

Development of and the holding of a twelve week training course for the staffs of emergency homeless shelters.

Development of an emergency homeless shelter Length of Stay Policy to address the need to more effectively move homeless clients from lengthy shelter stays to independent living.

Serves as a public forum for those interested in issues regarding homelessness and offers testimony to state and local legislative bodies on these issues.

Delegated by the Mayor to develop a ten-year plan to end chronic homelessness in New Haven and oversaw the development of:The New Haven Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.  This was accomplished by the creation of a community-wide Steering Committee, with a public forum and six focus groups held in a variety of locations with homeless consumers. The plan was presented to the greater New Haven community by Mayor John DeStefano, Jr., in December 2005.

Charged with the oversight of implementation of the ten-year, along with the Community Services Administration, which is responsible for actual implementation activities.

To view The New Haven Ten-Year Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, please Click.

Tent City 2010 Event

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