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Housing issues affect everyone in Connecticut, from those who are searching for a safe place to live, to those who may find it increasingly difficult to afford a place they already call home.WNPR is covering Connecticut's housing and homelessness issues in a series that examines how residents are handling the challenges they face. We look at the trends that matter most right now, and tell stories that help bring the issues to light.

Connecticut Shelter Capacity Slim Going Into Winter Months

Heather Brandon
/
WNPR

As the days grow colder, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness has launched a statewide campaign to help house those who need it during a time when shelter capacity is challenged.

“If there was ever a time it was important that clients could stay in their homes, it’s now,” said the coalition’s Madeline Ravich.

Ravich said that to help people stay safe from both the weather and the virus, the coalition is urging municipal lawmakers to pass resolutions committing their towns to ending homelessness.

She said roughly 2,000 people were in shelters before the pandemic hit in March and half of those people needed to be dispersed to 15 hotels to keep up with social distancing protocols.

Ravich said as the second wave approaches, fewer families are being displaced, possibly because of the current moratorium on evictions. That ends Jan. 1. Meanwhile, the number of individuals seeking shelter has increased.

“Shelter capacity is a concern because living on the streets in March is not ideal, but in January it’s downright dangerous,” said Ravich. 

The coalition’s ultimate goal is shelter diversion. COVID has highlighted the importance of having a home to stay safe. She said it’s also sparked more generosity from Connecticut residents. 

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SOMOS CONNECTICUT is an initiative from Connecticut Public, the state’s local NPR and PBS station, to elevate Latino stories and expand programming that uplifts and informs our Latino communities. Visit CTPublic.org/latino for more stories and resources. For updates, sign up for the SOMOS CONNECTICUT newsletter at ctpublic.org/newsletters.

SOMOS CONNECTICUT es una iniciativa de Connecticut Public, la emisora local de NPR y PBS del estado, que busca elevar nuestras historias latinas y expandir programación que alza y informa nuestras comunidades latinas locales. Visita CTPublic.org/latino para más reportajes y recursos. Para noticias, suscríbase a nuestro boletín informativo en ctpublic.org/newsletters.

The independent journalism and non-commercial programming you rely on every day is in danger.

If you’re reading this, you believe in trusted journalism and in learning without paywalls. You value access to educational content kids love and enriching cultural programming.

Now all of that is at risk.

Federal funding for public media is under threat and if it goes, the impact to our communities will be devastating.

Together, we can defend it. It’s time to protect what matters.

Your voice has protected public media before. Now, it’s needed again. Learn how you can protect the news and programming you depend on.

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Connecticut Public’s journalism is made possible, in part by funding from Jeffrey Hoffman and Robert Jaeger.