Hang Your Hat Foundation provides the following information and links to assist you in developing your understanding of homelessness, the need in our community and the solutions to homelessness. We encourage you to be involved as a volunteer, donor and advocate to end homelessness!
KEY STATISTICS from the CT Coalition to End Homelessness:
- Each year in Connecticut, over 33,000 people, including 13,000 children, do not have a place to call home.
- On any given night, approximately 2,000 people, including 400 children, stay in the 50 emergency shelters throughout the state.
- Others who are homeless sleep in their cars, on the street, in tents, in the woods, in makeshift shelters under bridges, or in abandoned buildings.
- In addition, many Connecticut residents are at risk of homelessness. Hundreds of women, men and children are “doubled up” and staying in the homes of family and friends on a temporary basis.
- High housing costs make rent payments unaffordable. Many of Connecticut’s residents with the lowest incomes live in unaffordable housing. With so much being diverted for rent, an unexpected event such as a layoff, injury or illness, the loss of a spouse, or a car breakdown could trigger a financial crisis and lead to eviction.
Right here in our own neighborhood, people are homeless. The answer is not more shelters. The answer is affordable housing.
PUBLICATIONS OF INTEREST
- please click to download pdf -
Portraits of Homelessness in Connecticut
Opening Doors: Federal Strategic Plan to End Homelessness
Greater Bridgeport Area Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness
CT Housing Affordability: The Challenge
LINKS TO LEADERS
For more information, please visit the following sites
Local Level: Operation Hope of Fairfield
State Level:
Partnership for Strong Communities
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
Corporation for Supportive Housing
Connecticut Voices for Children
Federal Level:
National Alliance to End Homelessness
Funders Together