Success Stories

Careways Success

Cindy (name changed to protect anonymity) and her 7 year old daughter faced homelessness for far too long.  They endeavored to find stable housing or a friend or relative who would let them stay with them for a while.  Cindy struggled with a chronic illness and a lack of stable employment.  These barriers, combined with a lack of affordable housing resulted in Cindy coming to New Haven Home Recovery’s CareWays Shelter. 

New Haven Home Recovery provided more than just a safe place for Cindy and her daughter, it provided her with the services she desperately needed.  She received counseling services and her daughter participated in our SEARCH (Services, Education & Activities Reaching Children who are Homeless) program to help maintain her grades while staying at the shelter.  Working with her case managers at CareWays, Cindy applied for and was accepted into a supportive housing program.  She was also able to take advantage of the Furniture Co-op to get furnishings for her new apartment so that she didn’t have to face moving into empty rooms.  After over a year of going between homeless shelters and staying with willing family and friends, Cindy finally has a place to call home.  New Haven Home Recovery works to empower homeless women in our shelters so that they can close the door to homelessness.

Martha's Place Success

Sonja (name changed to protect anonymity) found herself homeless because of a bed-bug infestation where she was living.  She was also struggling with severe depression and substance abuse issues.  Like many people in today’s tough economic climate, her only source of income was unemployment benefits.  Upon admission to Martha’s Place, Sonja received a basic needs assessment and a bio-psychosocial evaluation.  She worked with her case manager to obtain housing.  Her case manager referred her to the Community Services Network for enrollment into a Transitional Housing Program and Sojourner’s Place accepted her.  She also worked with our Wellness Counselor who provided Behavioral Therapy to address Sonja’s depression.  At the time of her discharge, she reported a significant reduction in the symptoms.  This is just one example of how New Haven Home Recovery’s individualized services help close the revolving door of homelessness in our community by connecting women with the services they so desperately need.

SEARCH Success

Two quiet and shy siblings entered into our SEARCH program afraid to speak to people, including teachers and classmates. After working with our Child Care Worker, these children gained the confidence to open up and earned awards at school!

CEP Success

During the month of October, the CEP Manager received a request for assistance with arranging transportation and securing emergency housing for a family from one of the school- based McKinney-Vento Liaisons.  The family was recently evicted and living doubled up with friends in Waterbury, often moving from house to house.  The parent had initially requested transportation assistance to and from school for her kindergartener.  Her initial transportation to New Haven request was denied on the basis that the district did not want to transport a five year old for that length of time, in a taxi, without adult protection.  However, the CEP Manager was able to discuss the situation with the transportation department who subsequently arranged for a bus to transport the child to and from school from Waterbury.  In addition, the CEP Manager was able to find the family a bed a Martha’s Place, where accommodations were made for them.

FSC Success

Between October and March of this academic year, students in the FSC program have read an astounding TWO HUNDRED TWENTY EIGHT books!!!

HPRP Success

HPRP has many successes. Here are a few examples of how this valuable program helps families:

• Has overturned two completed housing court evictions and even renewed one of the leases for an additional year and lowered rent by $50 a month.
• Helped a family obtain funds for a security deposit that was overpaid through legal services
• Helped a family whose home was condemned obtain safe housing.
• Helped house a family who was living out of their car
• Housed families due to the foreclosure of their home

THP Success

A wonderful success for the THP program is a client who is working towards home ownership.  The family, shortly before being discharged successfully from the program, attended and completed the first time home buyers series through the City of New Haven.  This family worked hard to restore their credit and continued to save money, while completing our program.  The family is now in a position to make a down payment.  The family is excited that they are being considered for homeownership and have been told that they will be able to purchase their first home sometime this year.

Stable Families Success

The Stable Families Program has helped 29 families avert eviction! Included in those families are 61 children!

Healthy Start Success

A client was referred to Healthy Start from the HPRP Program. She lived in an area shelter, but was not offered much help or assistance besides shelter for her and her two children. Within a couple of weeks of being admitted to the program, she had secured her own apartment. She was also referred to the diaper bank, the pajama bank and the Furniture Co-Op. Upon moving into her apartment, the family received blankets, pajamas, books, age appropriate books, toiletries, bedding, towels and food items from our food pantry. She has always expressed her appreciation for the help and support provided to her and her children.

Housing First for Families Success

A family of three originally from Haiti and moved to the United States a few months ago and ended up living at a shelter in New Haven.  The family had a difficult time searching for housing due to lack of familiarity with the area.  Within two weeks of receiving the referral, the HFF Program Manager located an apartment for the family that was in a quiet, and safe neighborhood, and also near the mother’s job. The family is now participating in the Transition in Place Program through NHHR, which provides a subsidy and case management services for up to two years.