by | Jul 21, 2023 2:23 pm | Comments (4)
CT Social Equity Council Executive Director Ginne-Rae Clay, Prosperity Foundation Executive Director Orsella Hughes, and SEC Board Member Michael Jefferson at Friday's presser.
A million-dollar check marked “prosperity” is making its way into New Haven.
Continue reading ‘Cannabis Cash Flows Towards Youth, Reentry’
by | Jul 10, 2023 9:35 am | Comments (1)
Asher Joseph photo
At Friday's Community Action Agency job fair.
Milani Glass and her family once turned to the Community Action Agency of New Haven (CAANH) for help making ends meet. She’s now the Whalley Avenue social service hub’s health literacy and outreach coordinator.
On Friday, Glass sought to help recruit future colleagues-to-be at a job fair focused on available work at her former lifeline-turned-current employer.
Continue reading ‘Whalley Social-Service Job Hunters Seek A "Fresh Start"’
by | Jul 7, 2023 4:52 pm | Comments (14)
Thomas Breen file photo
Columbus House CEO Margaret Middleton: "Unsheltered homelessness is absolutely a crisis in our community."
Some of the 50 new emergency beds at 209 Terminal Ln.
Fifty new emergency shelter beds came online in the Hill Friday to help provide a safe, clean, indoors place to sleep for the city’s — and the region’s — rising number of people without a home.
Continue reading ‘50 New Homeless Shelter Beds Open In The Hill’
by | Jul 5, 2023 8:44 am | Comments (1)
Mia Cortés Castro Photo
Kristin Washington meets with job-pitchers from state Department of Aging and Disability Services.
Kristin Washington showed up to the Fair Haven public library fueled by a dream to work in public health — and ready to find out if state government employment could be the right career path for her now that’s she graduated from college and hunting for a job.
Continue reading ‘Employees To-Be Meet Employers In-Need In Fair Haven’
by | Jun 30, 2023 12:20 pm | Comments (2)
Maya McFadden photo
Book Award recipients with New Haven Links President Toni Harp.
Howard University, Southern Connecticut State University (SCSU), Central Connecticut State University (CCSU), University of Hartford, and Morgan State University are the next stops for seven New Haven high school graduates who each got a helping hand from a historic Black female advocacy organization to chase their higher-education dreams.
by | Jun 29, 2023 3:58 pm | Comments (3)
Soon-to-retire Community Services Administrator Mehul Dalal in April 2021.
Mehul Dalal will be stepping down from his role as the city’s top social services administrator for a policy advisor job in state government, and the mayor plans to replace him with the founder and executive director of a Blake Street public charter school.
by | Jun 27, 2023 3:17 pm | Comments (22)
Mia Cortés Castro Photo
Rallying for "Justice For Roya!" in West Haven.
Over two dozen New Haveners decamped to West Haven City Hall to celebrate the tragically short life of Roya Mohammadi — and to amp up pressure on police and public officials to take action around the sudden death of the 29-year-old Afghan immigrant and translator, whom advocates fear was a victim of domestic violence.
by | Jun 26, 2023 12:04 pm | Comments (2)
Asher Joseph photo
Doreen Abubakar (center) helping a senior attendee pot her plant.
“Everyone, be quiet! I want to know which one I got.”
A hush fell over the roughly 30 seniors gathered on the second floor of the Q House community center as the gardeners-in-training attempted to find the flower that corresponded to the leafy sprouts in front of them.
by | Jun 22, 2023 11:04 am | Comments (3)
MCCA design rendering
The planned new rehab site at 215 Whalley.
Thomas Breen photo
The ex-CVS's closed front doors and chainlink fences.
An abstinence-focused drug rehab clinic won its final needed city approval to relocate to the former CVS site at Whalley Avenue and Orchard Street.
by | Jun 16, 2023 11:12 am | Comments (11)
Paul Bass photo
Patricio Ramirez ready to take a shower at Power in a Shower on the Green earlier this week.
Alders moved forward plans to boost funds for a mobile shower program and social workers in the public libraries, as part of two new city contracts designed to help New Haven’s growing homelessness population.
Continue reading ‘Shower Van, Library Social Worker Contracts Advance’
by | Jun 7, 2023 11:56 am | Comments (7)
Nora Grace-Flood file photo
Big changes -- and six-month closure -- coming to State St. drop-in center (pictured).
A commercial kitchen and health clinic are coming to State Street’s Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen next year — as the long-time homelessness services provider prepares to temporarily relocate so that it can build out its latest location to better support a growing number of people facing housing and income insecurity.
Continue reading ‘DESK Preps For Temp Relocation, Major Renovations’
by | May 22, 2023 12:49 pm | Comments (4)
A rendering of the future childcare site on Flint Street.
Ten new early childhood classrooms to accommodate 80 more kids in need of care are one big step closer to coming to an ex-Flint Street movie theater this summer, thanks to an approval by local land-use commissioners.
by | May 9, 2023 8:47 am | Comments (11)
YNHH's James Dodington: Exploring "new ground nationally."
Shooting victims and their families are now eligible to receive one-time checks worth up to $1,000 apiece — thanks to an expanded hospital-led cash transfer program focused on supporting targets of interpersonal abuse while disrupting a broader cycle of social violence.
by | May 5, 2023 9:10 am | Comments (0)
(Updated) New Haven’s nonprofits have $3.5 million more to spend connecting and strengthening our community thanks to a 36-hour joint fundraising blowout.
by | Apr 19, 2023 10:52 am | Comments (45)
Nora Grace-Flood photos
Encampment residents unfolding their egg and cheeses Tuesday morning.
A view of the tents around Amistad House's backyard.
Refugees from a bulldozed West River encampment are taking shelter at an alternative, mission-based outdoor site in the Hill as they plan next steps to get back on their feet — while amping up their commitment to addressing the roots of housing injustice.
by | Apr 11, 2023 5:09 pm | Comments (31)
Thomas Breen Photo
Cop cars outside on East Street Tuesday following suspect's death.
Nora Grace-Flood photo
Stacey Wezenter outside her third-floor apartment and beside her still-broken door.
A 35-year-old East Street resident suspected of involvement in child pornography was found dead in his apartment Tuesday five days after police surprise-searched his apartment — as part of a raid that began with cops busting down the wrong door and handcuffing an innocent neighbor.
by | Apr 10, 2023 9:23 am | Comments (6)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
The Y2Y temporary shelter site at 924 Grand: Construction to start this summer?
New Youth Continuum CEO Mike Moynihan: “I am totally psyched to get this thing going again."
A years-delayed plan to provide shelter on Grand Avenue for young New Haveners in crisis is moving ahead — with fewer beds, and a new nonprofit director at the helm.
by | Mar 30, 2023 12:30 pm | Comments (13)
MCCA image
A rendering of the rehab clinic that could be at 215 Whalley...
Nora Grace-Flood photo
...vs. what's there now: An abandoned CVS.
The planned conversion of a former CVS pharmacy on Whalley Avenue into an abstinence-focused drug rehab clinic moved ahead, as the project’s backers seek approval to keep using an adjacent fenced-off asphalt lot for surface parking.
by | Mar 29, 2023 4:20 pm | Comments (4)
Bruni Pizarro is stepping down after three years as the leader of Junta for Progressive Action, New Haven’s oldest Hispanic social-services agency.
by | Mar 29, 2023 2:19 pm | Comments (9)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
COMPASS's Nanette Campbell and Lucia Lawlor, in a Continuum of Care-owned shelter on Edgewood Avenue. More crisis beds soon to come at 310 Winthrop (below).
Three megalandlord-owned apartments on Winthrop Avenue will soon become six short-term spots for people unsure where to turn in the midst of an affordable housing and shelter shortage.
by | Mar 27, 2023 4:07 pm | Comments (6)
Facebook photo
Celebrating Black History Month at the Shack.
United Illuminating (UI) has awarded The Shack another $10,000 to help the Valley Street community center keep up with its life-skill-based programming for local youth and seniors.
by | Mar 24, 2023 6:51 pm | Comments (4)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
COMPASS crew members Nanette Campbell and John Labieniec: Taking calls, building trust.
“Hello, yes, this is Nanette,” a crisis response team worker said as she answered her cell phone, all while rummaging around a blue minivan crammed full of Quaker Chewy granola bars, white undershirts and donated blankets in search of a pen and paper to jot down notes on an incoming emergency call.
Nanette Campbell’s colleague and the van’s driver, John Labieniec, pointed her to a stray blue Bic and passed over a crumpled flier on which to write.
Another day. Another call. Another test for a pilot city program seeking to find a new solution for certain housing, mental health, and substance-use cries for help.
by | Mar 20, 2023 3:03 pm | Comments (2)
Nora Grace-Flood Photo
Haender Ventura with his new track spikes, which he'll try out at practice after completing his in-school job running the printing press.
The news about this summer’s city offerings for kids was hot off the presses Monday at the Wilbur Cross High School print shop.
Joining public officials at a press conference held there, Cross Senior Haender Ventura spoke of how he was able to buy a new pair of $200 Nike spikes since finding employment through the city’s “Youth@Work” program.
This summer he plans to double his hours on the job so he can pay college tuition and put his shoes to work themselves, by joining the University of New Haven’s track team while he pursues a career in sports therapy.
by | Mar 13, 2023 1:33 pm | Comments (23)
Nora Grace-Flood photo
Marcus Williams at the recently cleaned, soon to be cleared Tent City.
The Elicker Administration plans to clear out a three-year-old West River encampment this week — leaving outdoor residents like Sudi Godek committed to “standing our ground,” while also uncertain as to where they will soon be spending their nights.
by | Mar 6, 2023 8:55 am | Comments (2)
Contributed photo
Guests attending the Delicious Partnership conversation heard from food entrepreneurs working with CitySeed and LEAP before enjoying Caribbean food at the Q House.
The following writeup was submitted by Nicole Jefferson, the communications coordinator for the youth services nonprofit Leadership, Education and Athletics in Partnership, Inc.