News
ADOPT – A – FAMILY THIS HOLIDAY SEASON
New Reach’s 12th annual Adopt-A-Family program will provide gifts for our
neediest clients this holiday season. Last year, the New Reach community
generously provided gifts for more than 200 families and individuals. For most,
including hundreds of children, these are the only gifts they will receive.
New Reach Annual Staff Awards
O
n September 30th, New Reach Staff Appreciation Month
culminated with an all Staff BBQ at Light House Point Park
in New Haven. Even though the weather was rainy we had a great time
Join us and experience the joy of giving this year. If you are interested in adopting
a family or individual please contact our Community Engagement Manager,
Mary Grande, at 203-492-4866 or [email protected].
celebrating staff and all of the hard work they do every day of the year to build hopeful futures
for those experiencing homelessness and poverty in Connecticut.
A special congratulation to this year’s annual award winners:
From the Desk of the CEO
Stacy Andrews, Stable Families Program Case Worker won our Hopeful Futures
Award for her outstanding level of commitment to direct service of our clients over the
past year.
Carmen Flores, Shelter Manager, is our Community Inspiration Award winner for her
proven dedication to the agency, clients, fellow staff members, and community partners
and for going above and beyond the scope of her assigned tasks to inspire others.
Nicole Barnofski, Director of Programs in New Haven is our Employee of the Year!
We thank her for her integrity, compassion, initiative and professionalism. Her proven
leadership and commitment to providing quality services are emblematic of all of the
values of the organization.
Save The Date
for our 18TH ANNUAL CELEBRATION AUCTION
to be held on May 3rd at Anthony’s Ocean View in New Haven.
Children who experience homelessness are 60% more likely to become homeless as adults
Over 50% of
New Reach staff
donate to
the agency
each year.
New Reach family of services:
@NewReachCT
New Reach, Inc.
@NewReachCT
New Reach to present at NAHRO national conference
NewReachCT
The National Association of Housing and Redevelopment Officials (NAHRO) is the leading housing and community development
advocate for the provision of adequate and affordable housing and strong, viable communities for all Americans—particularly those with
low- and moderate-incomes.
www.newreach.org
T
his October, NAHRO has invited New Reach to present to a national audience on our award
winning Stable Families program. Stable Families is a partnership between New Reach and the Bridgeport
Housing Authority that works to prevent homelessness for housing authority families who are at risk of eviction.
Through client centered case management, New Reach works with families to stabilize their housing.
Nonprofit Org.
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit #1119
New Haven, CT
NewReachFALL2016.indd 5-1
153 East Street
51% of jobs in CT pay less than $20 per hour
New Haven, CT 06511
(203) 492-4866
Stable Families was chosen as one of several national demonstration programs that are testing the impact and
effectiveness of a range of services to stabilize families and improve outcomes for the families, properties and the
broader community. Last year Stable Families provided services to 97 households including 192 children living in
the Bridgeport Housing Authority. 100% of those 97 families remain stably housed today.
VOL. 15 #3
FALL 2016
N
continues to rise, (in 2015-16 we served
ew Reach’s
over 2,000 people in CT) our need for
fiscal year and
private dollars increases. Private funds
the national
pay for operations of our shelters,
presidential election
infrastructure costs and fill the gaps in
cycle are ramping up
program dollars. These critical dollars
simultaneously this fall
keep the lights on in the shelters,
and I have fundraising
pay the heating bills at our buildings,
on my mind. Each week I read about
and help us to provide
events being held around
training and support for
the country where
My sincere wish
our frontline staff who
presidential candidates
this
fall
is
that
the
deliver the quality case
raise millions of dollars
in the course of a single
New Reach community management services our
clients require, day-in and
evening and I imagine
will
“vote”
to
invest
in
day-out.
what amazing things
could be accomplished
our mission to inspire
My sincere wish this fall
if even a fraction of
independence for those is that the New Reach
those dollars were
affected by homelessness community will “vote”
directed toward ending
to invest in our mission
homelessness.
and poverty.
to inspire independence
for those affected by
The Wall Street
homelessness and poverty. Regardless
Journal ran an article at the end of
of your politics, religion, ethnicity or
July reporting that over 1 Billion
gender, your investment in New Reach
dollars had already been raised for the
is a vote for community, opportunity
Democrat and Republican nominees.
and hope – things we could all use a
That is billion with a “B.” With that
bit more of these days.
as context, New Reach’s goal to raise
over 1 Million private dollars this year
With gratitude,
seems slightly less daunting…but only
slightly… and we will need your help to
reach it.
Kellyann Day, LMSW
Chief Executive Officer
As the numbers of individuals, families
“
”
and children we serve each year
Board of
Directors
Officers
Deborah Woodworth, Chair
Yale-New Haven Hospital
Bernadette Welsh, Vice Chair
Contessa Insurance Agency
Alfred Smith, Esq., Secretary
Murtha Cullina LLP
Diana Teixeira, CPA, Treasurer
DHL&S
Directors
Leo Connors, Jr.
Merrill Lynch
Mary Ferrari
Quinnipiac University
Bill Greeley
DRW
Jorge Jimenez
First Niagara Bank
John Keyes, Esq.
New Haven Probate Court
Frederick P. Leaf, Esq.
Law Offices of Frederick P. Leaf
Barbara Nelson
Early Childhood Learning Center
Michael West
UIL Holdings Corporation
Linda Zimmerman
Better Health Workouts
www.newreach.org
NewReachCT
@NewReachCT
New Reach, Inc.
@NewReachCT
37% of households in CT are at risk of experiencing homelessness
10/21/16 8:47 AM
K
Shelter & Housing
im is 42 years old…a full-time employee…a mother and
grandmother…and Homeless. Kim is the sole provider for her five
children and her 6 month-old grandson. When her developmentally-disabled
17-year old daughter gave birth last year, Kim was fired from her job for taking too much
time-off to care for her daughter’s new baby. Unable to pay her rent, Kim and her family
were evicted from their apartment and she was faced with the possibility of having to give up
custody of some of her children. Kim found New Reach’s Life Haven shelter, the only shelter
in New Haven able to accommodate a family of seven without separating them.
Kim is working with her shelter case-worker to get back on her feet. She has a new job, is diligently paying
off her overdue utility bills and is saving for an apartment. New Reach staff connected Kim’s oldest daughter
and grandson with a public school where she can take her son with her and receive the specialized services
she needs during the day. Kim’s younger children are safe, warm, well-fed and surrounded with support in the
shelter’s child-care and after school program.
Kim’s story would have a much different ending if not for the critical support services provided by New Reach.
Kim will soon be able to move her family into a new apartment where, together, they can look forward to a more
*Name has been changed out of respect for the client’s privacy
hopeful future.
CASENOTES: One Client’s Journey from Homeless to Housed
by Ken Olivo, New Reach CTI Team, Norwalk
hadn’t received the help I did, I don’t think I’d be alive today.
“If I hose
”
were the words Jennifer spoke to me when I met her in
T
her lovely home in Norwalk one recent sunny Wednesday.
Jennifer had completed her third and final phase of Critical Time Intervention
(CTI) case management two weeks prior to our meeting (with a coinciding graduation
ceremony, of course!), and I had been asked to follow up with her to chronicle her success.
In 2015 Jennifer was living in various shelters in Stamford (one of them a shelter for victims of domestic
violence), and had been doing so for 2 ½ years. She was battling an addiction to painkillers as a result of two
previous shoulder replacements, and was estranged from her daughter. Through a caseworker at Stamford
Hospital, she was connected with a service provider who referred her for CTI-Plus case management services.
She worked with a New Reach Housing Specialist to find her apartment. New Reach NorwalkTeam Lead, Dawn
Emerson, assisted her in obtaining disability benefits. CTI Worker, Elizabeth King, from New Reach
sub-contractor, Shelter for the Homeless, provided her with CTI case management services for the next nine
months. As Jennifer put it, “I had a great team”. Today, Jennifer is slowly re-establishing her relationship with her
daughter. She takes great pride in her home, and works with her medical doctors and therapist at Norwalk Hospital.
“I try to live life to the fullest”, she said. “I’ve found myself.”
Holiday Shopping? Shop at Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry in Hamden on November 10th
and they will generously donate a portion of your purchase to New Reach. But wait, there’s
more…you can bid on three silent auction items to help support our programs and join us for
a reception at 5:00 pm. Rumanoff’s Fine Jewelry is located at 4133 Whitney Ave., Hamden.
Shop for a cause!
Lack of affordable housing is the leading cause of homelessness for families
NewReachFALL2016.indd 2-4
Stabilization & Support
Community Connection
Barbara Geller Memorial Garden in Bloom in Hamden
T
his September, New Reach opened the Barbara Geller Memorial
Garden at our newest property, Geller Commons. The garden, complete
with plantings, sculpture and a water feature, is available for all residents and
neighbors to enjoy. Designed as a Therapeutic Garden, this lovely space offers a
quiet, contemplative space to escape from the stress of everyday life.
Geller Commons, a mixed rate affordable and supportive housing
development, provides 17 units of low income housing for Hamden residents
as well as 16 units of supportive housing for residents who have experienced
homelessness or are aging out of Foster Care. Dedicated to Barbara Geller, a
longtime advocate for affordable and supportive housing in Connecticut, the
Memorial Garden is a wonderful tribute to Barbara’s tireless advocacy for
those in our state who are struggling to survive.
One Family’s Journey to Housing Stability
“I didn’t have a way out of my problem that I was keeping to myself.
I thought that I could handle my situation on my own and that I had it
under control. I was embarrassed and scared.”
Portia was referred to New Reach’s Stable Families Program in October of 2014. Portia
and her family had been recently housed and were in need of case management
services to assist them in fostering stability in their home. Portia’s household was made
up of herself, her then-boyfriend, and her three children: 1-year-old Malachi, 3-year-old
Dahanne, and 7-year-old Malaysia. New Reach Case Worker Stacy Andrews was assigned
to work with the family.
From the outset Stacy noticed that the family was having difficulty sustaining employment and beginning to fall behind
in their bills. Additionally, Portia’s relationship with her boyfriend was suffering – she became, in fact, a victim of
domestic violence. The situation became so volatile that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) removed her
daughter from the home.
In order to regain custody of her daughter Portia had to meet certain conditions - she had to maintain her housing and
find steady employment. Stacy supported her through that process by collaborating with Park City Communities to get
her her own Section 8 voucher. Portia was able to move into her own apartment, but she didn’t have any furniture.
Stacy referred her to Ralph at New Reach’s Furniture Co-op, and he was able to furnish her apartment.
Portia is now working part-time, and her daughter has been returned back to her home. “Stable Families was such a
support for me in so many ways”, Portia says. “Stacy never gave up on me, especially when it got tough for me. She
always remained supportive of me. It’s going to be weird to not be able to call her just to vent about something in my
life, but I know I can call her if I need her.”
A staggering 2.5 million children are now
homeless each year in America.
This historic high represents one in
every 30 children in the United States
Volunteers from Medtronics spent a
Saturday at The Furniture CoOp
helping to furnish apartments for
clients moving out of shelter.
92% of homeless women have experienced significant interpersonal violence
Celebrating Life Haven at New Reach’s Annual “Summer on the Sound”
O
n Thursday August 11th over 250 guests attended New Reach’s
Annual Summer on the Sound event to benefit our Life Haven
shelter. Held at the Owenego Inn Beach & Tennis Club in Branford, guests
enjoyed an old-fashioned barbecue and music on the shores of picturesque Long Island
Sound, and a wonderful time was had by all. Many thanks to presenting sponsor Ann Inc. in
helping us honor Board Member Barbara Nelson for her longtime commitment to the women
and children we serve. Among the many attendees were U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal and
State Senator Ted Kennedy, Jr.
A special thank you to the Life Haven Fund Development Committee and the Wall
of Wine Committee for all their hard work, and to Board Member Leo Connors, Jr.
for chairing this successful event.
New Reach relies on the generous support of the community to achieve our mission.
A very special thank you to the following community partners:
• I Heart New Haven volunteers who volunteered at various New Reach properties on July 30th.
Over 1000 volunteers gave their time to non-profits throughout New Haven.
• Paul Bronson and Lauren Corso for coordinating I Heart New Haven New Reach volunteers
• Pat Akers for designing the Summer on the Sound website and event posters
• ANN INC for the donation of 17 boxes of clothing for the women our agency serves
• Lenny & Joe’s Fish Tale of Madison for choosing New Reach to be the beneficiary on August 4th their Magical
Charitable Carousel proceeds
• Calypso St Barth of Westport for hosting a 10/10 day to benefit New Reach
• Parish of St Francis Church for hosting a kitchen supplies drive to benefit the women and families moving out
of Life Haven into their own homes
• Geri Johnson-Reis, Blythe Reis and Alex Plaza for sorting and stuffing donated backpacks and school supplies
• Susan Samuels, Life Haven R.A., for coordinating an August food drive at Stop & Shop New Haven which
netted over 24 boxes of non-perishable food and over $350 in monetary donations
• Merrill Lynch/ Bank of America’s local Central CT Women’s Exchange Chapter, donated 100 backpacks stuffed
with school supplies to New Reach in support of children in our local community.
• Black & Decker for their generous donation of tools to replace those stolen from us earlier this year.
New Reach honored by the New Haven Chamber at Annual Business Leadership Awards
N
ew Reach CEO, Kellyann Day, accepted the chamber’s 2016
Community Partnership Award on behalf of the agency in
September. A sold out crowd of over 600 came together to honor eight New Haven
businesses for their leadership, achievements, and service to the community.
New Reach was presented with the Community Partnership Award for the successful
integration of Life Haven Shelter into the agency’s family of services. A longstanding and critical resource for New
Haven women and children in need, Life Haven provides emergency shelter for 20 households every night. By
merging back office support and leveraging economies of scale, Life Haven and New Reach were able to ensure that
these 20 units of family shelter remain available to New Haven’s most vulnerable residents. Under the New Reach
umbrella, Life Haven remains a strong and vibrant community resource in New Haven.
Domestic Violence is the leading cause of homelessness among women
10/21/16 8:47 AM