266 State Street
CAPITAL PROJECT

The future of progressive, lifesaving programming for unhoused people.

Front of DESK at 266 State, New Haven

For the past 35 years, Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen has supported those experiencing homelessness and living in poverty in New Haven. We have always believed in the power of community to make real and lasting changes in the lives of the people we serve. In coordination with our partners, DESK is developing New Haven’s first Downtown Drop-in & Resource Center at 266 State Street to provide more comprehensive services than ever before.

Our Vision

Person standing in front of van.

ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

✓ Street-level
✓ Wheelchair-accessible and ADA compliant
✓ Visible, identifiable, and welcoming
✓ Downtown—to meet people where they are

Two people playing checkers

ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

✓ Designed for our Guests and by our Guests
✓ Trauma-informed
✓ Gender-responsive
✓ Client-centered

Person receiving medical care.

ACCESSIBLE TO EVERYONE

✓ Basic needs: food, clothing, bathrooms
✓ Harm reduction supplies and interventions
✓ Outreach services and case management
✓ Medical and behavioral health services
✓ Coordinated Access Network entry

Basic Needs + Next Level Services

People have always come to DESK to access basic needs in a trusted environment. Once there, our staff and partners have the opportunity to connect them with the services and care that can move them beyond homelessness and toward a greater sense of stability and improved wellbeing.

Basic Needs

DESK’s Drop-in Center will meet people where they are.
✓ Food, drinks, bathrooms, refuge, WiFi, lockers, harm reduction supplies.
✓ Volunteers and outreach workers, side-by-side.
✓ And doing what we’ve always done: building community.

Next Level Services

DESK’s Resource Center will move people beyond homelessness.
✓ Offices and examination rooms for Hill Health’s Homeless Healthcare Department, meeting space for a consumer advisory board, and swing space for outreach workers, shelter/ housing intake, and mental health first aid.
✓ Plus computers, washer/dryer, and shower facilities.

    Freshly Prepared Meals

    DESK’s Kitchen will promote health, community, and equity.
    ✓ With volunteers, staff, and guests shoulder to shoulder.
    ✓ Moving more meals to more people than ever before.
    ✓ Prepared with dignity, respect, and purpose.

    Long-Term Capacity

    DESK’s Administrative Floor will ensure we’ll be around as long as needed.
    ✓ Greater impact means putting a stake in the ground.
    ✓ More administrative space for professional development, financial control systems, data management, performance evaluation, and sustainable operations.
    ✓ Open-floor design will maintain flexibility, preparing for some future programmatic use.

    Person sitting facing camera.

    No one should go it alone.

    DESK is fortunate to work as part of a network of partners in homelessness and food assistance services in New Haven. The renovation of 266 State Street will incorporate space for our service partners to operate, most notably Cornell Scott Hill Health Center, whose Department of Homeless Health Care will be based out of the second floor. Additionally, there will be space for private consultation and group meetings for our provider-partners, including Columbus House, Liberty Community Services, Connecticut Mental Health Center, and the Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network, the last whom will be able to conduct onsite intake for the shelter system.

    Building Renovations

    Drop-in Center

    The redesigned, street-level Drop-in Center will offer a variety of basic needs, including meals and snacks, coffee and drinks, WiFi, bathrooms, toiletries, and more. In addition, clients can make use of and access harm reduction interventions and supplies, such as syringe disposal, clean syringes, naloxone (Narcan), condoms, and other items that can help reduce the risk involved in drug use and sexual activity. Most importantly though, the space will offer a sense of belonging and community. It has been designed with a trauma-informed and gender-responsive lens, with input from people with lived experience, all meant to be welcoming and inclusive.

    Second-Floor Kitchen

    The second-floor kitchen will house our modern, energy-efficient, commercial kitchen.  Easily accessible via elevator, this incredible upgrade to our 30-year-old kitchen on Temple Street will also include administrative space for staff. Additional storage will be available at the basement level.

    Resource Center & Medical Clinic

    The third-floor Resource Center will feature a medical clinic staffed by Cornell Scott Hill Health Center’s Department of Homeless Health Care. In addition, there will be a private consultation room for other service providers and a bathroom and shower for use by clients.

    Basement-level Offices and Storage

    The basement level will include office space for program staff, as well as ample storage space for food and other supplies. There will also be a washer & dryer and work space for use by clients.

    Renovation Team

    Architect

    svigals partners<br />

    Project Manager

    stv

    Construction Manager

    pac group

    Project Funding

    DESK’s community-based approach extends beyond our programs and outreach efforts to our funding strategy, as well. For this project, we are accessing a variety of public and private resources to ensure broad-based buy-in and commitment. Homelessness is a community problem that requires a community solution.

    Ring chart
    Project Costs
    Soup Icon

    Kitchen

    $758,135

    266 State

    DROP-IN CENTER

    $341,458

    First Aid Kit

    MEDICAL CLINIC & CONSULTATION

    $585,308

    Heating/Cooling Icon

    HVAC

    $387,366

    Elevator Icon

    Elevator

    $622,484

    restroom

    RESTROOMS

     $197,365

    Person at desk

    ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES

    $293,002

    Blueprint Icon

    ARCHITECTURAL & CONTINGENCY

    $670,667

    REVENUE-TO-DATE

    US DEPT. OF HOUSING & URBAN DEVELOPMENT 1,438,399
    STATE OF CONNECTICUT 736,765
    CORNELL SCOTT HILL HEALTH CENTER 150,000
    CITY OF NEW HAVEN (HUD FUNDS) 150,000
    CONNECTICUT FOOD SHARE 114,000
    YALE UNIVERSITY 100,000
    PRIVATE DONATIONS (INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES)  434,799

    TOTAL REVENUE $3,223,963
    UPDATED MARCH 15, 2023

     

    Group of people holding a giant check with the Community Project Funding amount
    Cornell Scott Hill Health Center Logo
    Connecticut Logo
    HUD Seal
    City of New Haven Logo
    Connecticut Foodshare Logo
    Yale Logo
    Yale New Haven Health

    Campaign Committee

    Elsie Chapman, MS

    Alison Cunningham, MDiv

    Peter Herbert, MD

    Ben Ledbetter, MArch

    Scott McLean, PhD

    Rafi Taherian, AVP Yale University

    Sten Vermund, MD, PhD