Emergency Shelter

The Emergency Shelter is a 40-bed facility available to homeless families and single adults. The program is staffed 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Customers are provided 3 meals a day and basic needs items as necessary.

Support for every adult includes comprehensive case management. Action plans assist individuals to address needs such as medical, housing, employment, treatment programs and transportation. Customers are required to actively participate in housing and job searches. When employment or a legitimate source of income is obtained earnings must be saved as part of their case plan. Each adult has scheduled bi-weekly meetings with their assigned case manager to report progress and receive support for their action plan requirements. Issues that caused customers to become homeless and the necessary steps to alleviate some of those barriers are addressed in case management meetings. Some of these issues may include substance abuse, mental health, employment/and or housing search, school registration, physical health, saving money, and entitlement programs. Unemployed individuals are referred to Workforce Development programs at CT Works for skill assessment and access to training opportunities.

Collaboration with other agencies and outreach initiatives include offering programs that address mental health, substance abuse, nutrition, legal assistance, and disease prevention. Educational opportunities are available to customers and include parent education and skills development courses utilizing the STEP parenting curriculum to support customers with life skills. Also, nutrition and budgeting classes are provided for all adults by Access and other community partners. Additionally, the shelter program has partnered with the Killingly Board of Education to provide community service opportunities for suspended and expelled students. The Emergency Shelter hosts three cookouts a year for the residents, has central air conditioning and a large outdoor play area for children.

In the event that residents discharge to permanent housing within Windham and Tolland counties, they are referred to community-based programs for continued support.