The Housing Collective

United Way of Greater Waterbury Addresses Shelter Crisis WATERBURY, CT – United Way of Greater Waterbury is working with proven partners to increase shelter resources so that no one needs to face the severe health risks of sleeping outside this winter. “Our goal is to open the Center for Human Development (CHD) Hospitality Center 24/7 through March.” Jered Bruzas, chief impact officer with United Way announced, “In addition to United Way of Greater Waterbury’s $20,000 commitment, the City of Waterbury-Mayor's Office recently pledged $20,000, along with a $20,000 commitment from The Housing Collective.” Currently, the center is only available during daytime hours unless the governor of Connecticut activates the state’s cold weather protocol. “It is just as life-threatening to sleep outside when the temperature is 25 degrees as when it is zero or below,” Mr. Bruzas explained. “Unfortunately, funding is stretched as we face an unpredicted rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness.” The Center for Human Development (CHD) Hospitality Center is located at 690 East Main Street, Waterbury CT. https://lnkd.in/edKRQewh Anne Karolyi Republican-American

No one should be sleeping outside in the Connecticut winter. We are proud to partner with United Way of Greater Waterbury and the City of Waterbury-Mayor's Office to keep the Center for Human Development Hospitality Center open 24/7 until March. “We commend our local partners...for showing great leadership and stepping up to bring more lifesaving cold weather services to the region after the state cut funding for cold weather services by 10% last year," said our Chief Initiative Officer Jess Kubicki.

We strive to provide housing access and ensure housing stability for all. While there's much work ahead in 2025, we were able to make great progress in 2024 alongside our tremendous partners. 🏠 1,500+ people housed or diverted from homelessness in western CT 🏘️ 150+ new affordable homes in development in Litchfield County 🤝 1 new Fair Rent Commission in eastern CT 📰 12 reports 👥 7 new team members

“Our fair rent commissions need to have some legislative support and municipality support to really put some accountability on how we are regulating the rents that we have here," our senior manager Gabrielle Padilla tells Republican-American. https://lnkd.in/eX5PYYEs

Evonne Klein has been one of Connecticut's greatest champions for housing affordability both as a public servant and private citizen. Last month, Partnership for Strong Communities recognized Evonne as a "Here for Housing Ambassador" for 2024 during their Affordable Housing Conference 👏

The Opening Doors Initiative has been convening Fairfield County faith leaders to collaborate on housing solutions for our most vulnerable residents. Last week, representatives from more than 15 congregations in the Norwalk, Stamford and Greenwich areas met with with regional housing and service providers. If your congregation would like to join this effort, please get in touch. Contact: openingdoors@thehousingcollective.org

"The face of homelessness has changed significantly. We have so many people who were affording their apartment, and... no longer can because the rents have skyrocketed," our CIO Jessica Kubicki told legislators during a roundtable last week with Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. https://lnkd.in/eEd6rFi3

Although pandemic-era rent increases have cooled slightly, housing demand far exceeds supply. "We need at least 98,000 additional affordable units throughout the state... It's not something that we are going to be able to solve quickly," our CEO David Rich tells CT Insider. https://lnkd.in/dAYeCQZi

It's getting colder outside and we still don't have enough space for those experiencing homelessness in Fairfield County. Join us and Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness on Thursday and let's tell our local representatives how they can support homelessness response in our region. RSVP: https://lnkd.in/eFjAzXE8

We're #hiring a Program Associate for the Opening Doors Initiative (ODI), which works to end homelessness in Western Connecticut. The Program Associate will be responsible for supporting ODI senior staff in achieving our short- and long-term goals, and building our impact in Fairfield County and Northwest CT. Full-time, hybrid Location: Bridgeport, CT Apply: https://bit.ly/497Elhr