Dear Friends,

Last week, a friend of mine and her daughter were getting off the highway in New Haven, and they noticed an older gentleman standing by the exit, asking for help.  It was very cold, below freezing temperatures at mid-day.  The daughter, eight-years old, asked her mom, “Where will that man sleep tonight?” The mom answered, “I’m sure he’ll make it to a shelter.”  

Later that day, my friend turned the question to me: “Is that true?”

The need in New Haven is greater than we’ve ever seen.

In the years that I have been serving unhoused individuals and families in New Haven, I have never before witnessed such a mismatch between the number of people on the street and the capacity of our shelter system.  Greater New Haven has seen a 38 percent increase in the number of unsheltered individuals this year.  Currently, there are 387 people in New Haven waiting to get into a shelter.  That’s 387 people in our city that do not have a bed to sleep in tonight.  And, like the man just off the highway, we are seeing at DESK an increase in the number of older adults.

Part of the reason our shelter system is failing to keep up is the lack of deeply affordable housing: there are not enough rental units that are accessible to those relying on housing vouchers.  This is a problem that has been years in the making, and it will take us years to get out of it.  Keeping our eye on long-term goals, however, should not diminish the immediate need in front of us today. 

Finding Immediate Relief

When Jeffrey first lost his housing in New Haven, he made his way Downtown. “I asked people on the street, ‘Where do you go to get food, get housing, find emergency shelter?’ and they told me about DESK.”  Jeffrey walked into our Drop-in & Resource Center: “[That’s where] I found people who really care about the community and really care about me.”

Getting off the street, into shelter, and housed is no small feat.  It takes patience, trust, and, most of all, a caring and responsive community of providers.  At DESK’s Drop-in & Resource Center, our staff, interns, volunteers, and Guests build the connections necessary for long-term stability and wellbeing.  Today, Jeffrey is not only permanently housed; he’s also one of our most reliable volunteers.

***

Jeffrey worked hard to stay the course and get housed—but it’s never easy.  Many of those we serve face difficult hurdles, like a criminal record, past evictions, or mental health or substance use disorder orders.  The high rents, low vacancy rates, and lack of shelter capacity compound an already challenging situation.

So how does DESK we meet the challenge? 

Compassion, connection, and community.  DESK’s Drop-in & Resource Center offers a place where basic needs and services are delivered through empathy and understanding.  We remove stumbling blocks, build relationships, and create a sense of belonging that empowers our those we serve.  But we can’t do this alone.  For almost forty years, DESK has thrived and grown because the community has supported us. We have continually found better ways to have a greater impact on the lives of those most vulnerable and most in need in New Haven … because of YOU.

Your support is critical to ensuring that everyone in New Haven has the opportunity to access basic needs.

Join me today in giving to DESK so that everyone’s story has the same ending as Jeffrey’s.  

Donate online at deskct.org/hope today!

And thank you as always!

Yours in service,

P.S.  Are you in a position to give through retirement savings, securities, or planned giving?  Learn more about how you can be part of DESK’s Legacy Society at deskct.org/legacy.