SERVICE PROJECTMAAACE

Members: Aaron Randi, Amanda Chomen, Amy Howard, Clifton McSwain, Ebony Gaines, Michelle Comendul

WHY DID WE

CHOOSE THIS

PROBLEM?

HOMELESSNESS IN CONNECTICUT

4,451 homeless people in CT661 homeless in New Haven area

(15% of CT’s homeless are in the New Haven area)

3 CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO HOMELESSNESS

I. Inadequate Income

II. Unemployment

III. High Cost Of Living

HOMELESSNESS IN CONNECTICUT

Poverty- families’ income compared to family size (O’Neil, 2008)

Single person – under $10,000 Family (two children) – under $20,000

8% of CT population are living under the federal poverty level

10% of all children living in CT fall under the umbrella of poverty

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS TO HOMELESSNESSCost of Living in Connecticut in 2009 was the 5th highest in the United States (CCEH 2011).

74% of families reported rent problems or eviction as their reason for leaving their previous homes (CCEH 2011).

Housing Cost Burdened- families or individuals that are forced to spend over 50% of their income on housing (CCEH 2011).

Even short periods of unemployment can leave these housing-cost-burdened individuals and families homeless

CONTRIBUTING FACTORS SUMMARY

Three Main Factors:

Inadequate Income

Unemployment

High Cost of Living

Secondary Factors:

Interpersonal Violence

Disabling Health Conditions

Re-entry from Criminal Justice System

ORGANIZATIONS OFFERING SOLUTIONS

The Youth Continuum Protects and promotes the well-being of at-risk youth Provides skills necessary to take advantage of opportunities for a healthy and

productive future (Youth Continuum n.d.) The Columbus House

Willing to help everyone, from people with severe mental illnesses or addiction problems to people getting out of prison (Columbus House, n.d.)

New Haven Home Recovery (NHHR) Promotes the independence of women and children confronted with

homelessness, HIV/AIDS, and behavioral health issues (New Haven Home Recovery, 2008)

Life Haven program Provides a safe and nurturing environment for homeless pregnant women

and women with young children Can serve up to 20 families at one time (Life Haven, 2012)

The Christ Church of New Haven Community Soup Kitchen St. Andrews Food Pantry Midnight Run

CHOOSING AN ORGANIZATION

The Christ Church of New Haven

Midnight Run Help pass out food and

clothing Previous experience See first hand who was

getting what Able to see impact of our

efforts immediately Continuous program

Go back and donate more clothes

OUR PLAN OF ACTION: MONDAY, APRIL 2ND

7:30 p.m. Church of Christ

8:00 p.m. New Haven Green

8:45 p.m. Men’s Shelter

9:15 p.m. Back at Christ Church

SERVICE PROJECT VIDEO

http://youtu.be/8viIfRAN5dc 

HOW SUCCESSFUL WAS OUR GROUP IN

PRODUCING CHANGE?

ALTHOUGH IT’D BE IMPOSSIBLE TO CONQUER WORLD HUNGER

OVERNIGHT, WE… Helped relieve the hungry by serving bagged

meals at multiple stations Distributed clothing and toiletries

SPECIAL THANKS TO MAAACE

Those receiving food and clothing were very grateful

The director of the Midnight Run program was very thankful and welcomed us back any time

WE DIDN’T STOP THERE!

We served about 100 people during the Midnight Run Program

MAAACE also followed up with the program and donated more clothing

WHAT DID MAAACE GAIN?

A sense of appreciation

It felt like we were making a difference

WHAT WOULD WE HAVE DONE DIFFERENTLY?

Make earlier arrangements in order for us to bring more clothing or anything that the church thought was acceptable for the

Midnight Run.

REFERENCE LIST

Christ Church New Haven. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.christchurchnh.org/outreach/

Columbus House. (n.d.). Columbus House. Retrieved March 10, 2012, from http://www.columbushouse.org/

Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH). (February 2011). Portraits of Homelessness in Connecticut. Retrieved from: http://www.consuls.org:80/record=b3231941~S3

Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH). (2011). Connecticut point in time count: Regional breakdown of the homeless population. Retrieved from: http://www.cceh.org/files/publications/Connecticut_Point_in_Time_Count_2011_-_Regional_Breakdown_of_the_Homeless_Population.pdf

Liberty Community Services - Home. (n.d.). Liberty Community Services - Home. Retrieved March 11, 2012, from http://www.libertycs.org/index.htm

Life Haven, Temporary Shelter for Homeless Pregnant Women and Children. (2012). Welcome to Life Haven. Retrieved March 11, 2012 from: http://www.lifehaven.org/index.php

New Haven Home Recovery. (2008). Who We Are. Retrieved March 11, 2012 from: http://www.nhhr.org/about-us/who-we-are.html

O'Neil, R. F. Office of Legislative Research, (2008). Poverty, homelessness, and children (Report Number 2008-R-0384). Retrieved from website: http://worldcat.org/arcviewer/1/CZL/2008/07/19/0000086433/viewer/file1.html

Youth Continuum. (n.d.). Our Mission. Retrieved March 10, 2012 from: http://www.wix.com/newhavenconnecticut/youth-continuum#!about-us