DESK held a ribbon-cutting ceremony this morning to commemorate the completion of the long-awaited renovation project to New Haven’s first low-barrier Drop-in & Resource Center at 266 State Street. Today’s event featured Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro and Senator Richard Blumenthal, and included remarks from DESK Executive Director Steve Werlin, New Haven’s Mayor Justin Elicker, Connecticut Department of Housing Commissioner Seilah Mosquera-Bruno, Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development Deputy Commissioner Matt Pugliese, and Cornell Scott Hill Health Center’s Chief Development Officer, Mary Ellen Cody.  Each speaker highlighted the critical services that will be available to unhoused individuals in New Haven through DESK’s newly-renovated space. 

The conceptual design of the project began in 2020 with a series of interviews, focus groups, and a half-day workshop that brought together people with lived expertise, providers, volunteers, community stakeholders, law enforcement, and City officials.  A major step toward the goal of creating New Haven’s first low-barrier, Downtown Drop-in & Resource Center (DRC) was realized in December 2020 when DESK purchased the three-story building at 266 State Street.  The following April, DESK launched the DRC as a day program, open 1:30-5:30, Sunday through Friday—all the while, working in the background to acquire the funding, design the architectural plans, and plan for the renovations.

The 266 State Capital Project is a $3.875 million construction project funded by a combination of public and private sources, including $1.438 million in federal HUD Community Project Funding, $500,000 from the state Community Investment Fund, $200,000 in state ARPA funding, $150,000 in City of New Haven CDBG funding, $150,000 from Cornell Scott Hill Health Center (medical clinic underwriting), $114,000 from Connecticut Foodshare, $100,000 from Yale New Haven Health Systems, and $100,000 from Yale University. In addition to these institutional funders, dozens of private individuals have contributed to the project. 

In January 2024, DESK moved the DRC program to the Church of St. Paul & St. James in Wooster Square so that they could begin the full renovation of the building.  The architectural design was completed by New Haven-based Svigals + Partners.  Torrington-based PAC Group served as the construction management firm; STV, Inc. provided project management services.

Today’s ribbon-cutting marked the conclusion of the renovations.  Now it’s fully realized iteration, the Drop-in & Resource Center includes a beautifully warm and welcoming cafe with servery; a basement resource center with laundry facilities, a computer lab, and consultation space for outreach workers and intake specialists for the Greater New Haven Coordinated Access Network (staffed by the United Way); a second-floor commercial kitchen with an estimated output of 100,000 meals annually; and third-floor medical clinic dedicated to homeless healthcare and staffed through a partnership with Cornell Scott Hill Health Center.  Additional meeting space and consultation space is available to advocacy groups, including the Unhoused Activists Community Team (U-ACT) and partnering service providers, including Connecticut Mental Health Center.  Through an array of interagency partnerships, DESK is providing the comprehensive array of support services for unhoused and primarily unsheltered individuals in New Haven.

More information on the 266 State Capital Project, including the architectural plans, funders, capital campaign committee members, and how to support this critical work can be found at deskct.org/capital.

Photos of the event are courtesy of Mike Illuzzi and are available online at micheleilluzziclientele.com/soupkitchen.

Additional news media coverage: New Haven Independent

Full Ribbon Cutting Ceremony