Connecticut homelessness on the rise

Connecticut homelessness on the rise
(March 2009 Issue)

By Phyllis Hanlon

Current economic conditions have prompted layoffs in unprecedented numbers, spiraling healthcare costs, record home foreclosures and growing instances of homelessness nationwide. In recent weeks when temperatures have plunged to negative numbers, the issue of homelessness has taken center stage in Connecticut.

Mackenzie S. Tyson, program director at The Connection, Inc., Eddy Shelter of Middlesex County, notes that the recent frigid weather has caused an overflow in many of Connecticut's shelters. "The state opened five armories, but provided no transportation," she says. "This was like applying a band-aid when we need stitches."

Allison Ponce, Ph.D., assistant professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Yale University's School of Medicine and associate director of Community Services Network, indicates that shelters in New Haven have experienced a five percent increase in use. "Columbus House has a general and an overflow shelter open in the winter. Both are over capacity," she says.

While the numbers of those without shelter is rising, there exists another group of marginally housed who are not counted among the homeless, says Ponce. "They may find shelter in someone's home temporarily, but as resources get tight, it gets harder to find a place to stay," she says.

However, building more shelters is not the answer to the problem. "Research demonstrates that solving the problem of homelessness is not found by increasing shelter capacity," says Ponce. "You need permanent housing. The mentally ill do better under those circumstances."

Connecticut's Office of Policy and Management, Department of Social Services, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Department of Economic and Community Development and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority collaborate in the creation of supportive, permanent, affordable and independent rental housing with attached services.

Tyson, too, emphasizes the importance of permanent housing. "Emergency shelters should be there to stop the bleeding and help with acute care right away. It was not created to house people for a year," she says.

Tyson also applauds Next Steps, a federally funded program that provides housing subsidies for individuals with mental illness and substance abuse, for its successful efforts to house the chronic homeless. Ponce, however, reports that Gov. Jodi Rell's (R) proposed budget includes no new funding for Next Steps.

"We have a long way to go before things will get better. A lot of cities have unveiled 10-year plans with several phenomenal ideas like the homeless prevention plan," Tyson says. "It's about being realistic and proactive. Let's talk about what works, have more of a community conversation before there's snow on the ground."

According to the 2008 Point-in-Time Count, which provides a one-day snapshot of homelessness in Connecticut, homeless families in the state increased 13 percent from 2007 to 2008. This year's count anticipates an increase in family homelessness because of a shortage in rental housing, failure to create more affordable and supportive housing and rising foreclosures. The report cites full capacity at Connecticut shelters with a turn away rate as high as 50 percent.

Kate Kelly, campaign manager for Reaching Home - a drive to create 10,000 units of new, permanent housing in the Nutmeg state by 2014 - reports that Connecticut currently has nearly 3,800 units of supportive housing in existence or in the pipeline, adding that plans call for an additional 4,000 units.

Homelessness carries a number of negative consequences including impaired ability to access services. "It's more difficult to have a constant source of support and to stay engaged with treatment, medication and counseling," says Ponce. "It's hard enough for individuals with mental illness without having an issue with housing."