It’s a grim reality most people don’t care to talk about. Just because a town doesn’t have its own shelter for people who are in need of a home doesn’t mean there isn’t a homelessness problem there.
New London Homeless Hospitality Center, a not-for-profit (501 (c) 3) coalition of citizens, faith communities and service organizations serves people in all communities in the region. It runs the 50-bed overnight shelter at St. James Episcopal Church at 76 Federal Street, as well as a daytime center at the All Souls Church, 19 Jay Street, for homeless clients.
The overnight shelter has been in the news much in recent months as members of the New London Town Council earlier this year voted to implement a policy that required every guest who wanted to stay the night to pass an alcohol breath test. Last week, The Day reported that members of that town council voted 7-0 to suspend the policy during “extreme weather conditions,” including cold temperatures.
According to the center’s website, in the past year it provided hospitality and support to over 500 homeless individuals. That includes at least 30 adults who have ties to Montville, according to John Spinnato, Montville, an advocate for the homeless. Spinnato, 59, retired from General Dynamics four years ago, works 30 hours a week at the hospitality center.
“From 2007 to last month, we have housed 31 people who are affiliated with Montville. They either have lived here, were born here, they have ties here, or stay with family here,” he said. “If there wasn’t this service in New London, they would have to stay in Montville.”
At its October 15 meeting, Montville’s Town Council voted unanimously to increase the town’s contribution to the center from $1,000 to $3,000. Funds for the increase were available in a contingency account. Spinnato spoke at the town council meeting, as a town resident.
“Everybody says ‘that’s New London’s problem,’ but it’s not. This is everyone’s problem,” he said, providing the comparison that since 2006 the shelter has taken care of 118 people that have ties to the City of Norwich.
Without this support, he said, Montville would have to come up with a center, including overnight facility, a food center, transportation for the homeless to go back and forth to New London for Social Security benefits and community health services.
Town Councilman Bill Caron introduced the resolution to increase the town’s donation, based on a plea from the Council of Governments (COGs), which Montville Mayor Joe Jaskiewicz currently chairs.
“The Council recognized that this is a regional misfortune; that area towns do need to step up to the plate and do our part,” said Caron. “There are residents of Montville who have the misfortune of being homeless and do go to the New London center.”
The emergency center recently lost 25 percent of its overall funding as a result of state budget cuts, according to Catherine Zall, executive director. Montville’s contribution will help to keep it open.
“Homelessness is a regional issue,” she said. “Only about half the people served at the shelter are natives of New London. Homelessness strikes people in every town in our region. Emergency shelter is one part of the overall response we need.”
Montville is one of five towns that have responded so far to the COG plea for each town increase its support she said. Others towns are still in process of considering the request.
“Our budget is pieced together from a wide variety of sources, so every dollar matters to us,” she said. “If we were to get the full $60,000 that would be generated by every town in the region putting in $3,000 that would represent about 15 percent of our budget.”
Spinnato said he first got involved as a volunteer at the soup kitchen, reflecting that he, his wife and daughter have been very fortunate with their careers and jobs. The center has a staff of about ten, plus volunteers from all walks, including students at Connecticut College and UConn.
“People should help people,” he said. “If you stick your head in the sand, everything really looks nice.”
When he first went there four years ago, he admitted that he was afraid of some of the clients. Now he considers many of them his friends.
“These are people; they fall into the category of homeless. Some are addicted and some are mentally disturbed. They are just like you and I, but they have problems. Some may go back to childhood,” he said. “People with problems fall between the cracks because they don’t have the patience, the proper channels. I speak for them and my group speaks for them to get them housing, food stamps, because they can’t function in a work environment.”
Some of the center’s patrons do seek work, he said, but working 25 hours or more at a fast food restaurant or other minimum wage jobs doesn’t cut it when monthly apartment rents start at $1,000. Without a permanent address, it is hard to apply for a job, receive mail or apply for social services.
“In today’s society, if someone goes to prison, his life is shot,” he said. “If you put in any hard time, a couple of years in prison, you will not get a job. If you are a felon, you can’t even get an apartment. These are things most people don’t realize. It’s very difficult to get back on the right path because no one wants you.”
On an average day, 60 people will come in for assistance at the day center, he said. It provides them access to computers, the Internet, a phone and an address. Staff also help them get medical assistance and handle other aspects of daily life.
“From a cup of coffee to a clean pair of socks,” he said. On a daily basis as a monitor he can handle any number of needs and requests. He also is in charge of a work detail group that cleans up the building at the end of the day.
Fifty to 60 people, age 18 to 65, stay each night. The center does not take in children, so if a parent or family comes in, Spinnato and other staff work with them to see what other shelters can help them.
The center reports that it has helped over 70 individuals to secure public benefits including cash, health insurance and food stamps, and provided practical support that allowed at least 34 to return to paid employment. It has supported over 20 successful applications to Social Security disability programs.
From October 2006 to 2007, the center reported that it helped 22 people return to their families, either in the state or outside of it. They helped another 33 people find their own apartments, most of these at unsubsidized rates, and linked a dozen with roommates. They helped seven homeless clients in specialized housing, ranging from elderly/disabled housing to supervised group homes, skilled nursing facilities and public housing.
“Montville has been very responsive. We are very grateful for the support,” said Zall. For more information about the center, go to www.nlhhc.org