Alder Rodriguez makes a dent in homelessness.
Alder Carmen Rodriguez donned a hard hat and struck a sledgehammer into a wall — and urged her counterparts in other cities to break down metaphorical walls as well to support the “cold, wet, and hungry.”
Rodriguez was joining other elected officials Tuesday morning at a symbolic wall-breaking to kick off a $3.9 million renovation of the Downtown Evening Soup Kitchen at 266 State St.
The $3.9 million renovations, expected to be done by July, will turn the soup kitchen/drop-in center’s 266 State St. location into a four-story multipurpose space. The first floor will remain a check-in space. The basement will be an office space for staff, the second floor an energy efficient commercial kitchen, and the third floor will be a Cornell Scott-Hill Health-run medical center with showers and counselors available.
Rodriguez thanked DESK staff for being on the front lines of the housing crisis and acknowledged the work that New Haven has done to support those facing housing insecurity. She urged other cities to do the same.
“Please start doing what New Haven is doing for our unhoused population,” she said, emphasizing that she meant no offense. She cited local warming centers, the Days Inn hotel-turned-shelter, and local agencies as the model for other cities to follow.
“Here’s my ask: All other towns, take this model, bring it into your towns, and we can get all those who are cold, wet, and hungry into a nice, warm facility.
“Steve is here. If you need information on how to do this and get it done, reach out to Steve Werlin at 266 State St.!” Rodriguez added, prompting laughter in the room.
Werlin, DESK’s executive director, described the desire for the space to address both immediate needs — a place with bathrooms, clothes, and food — and to build trust and connect clients to longterm resources.
“Here at DESK, we don’t throw up walls — metaphorically. We knock them down, and we build bridges,” he said.
“Mr. Werlin, tear down this wall,” declared Mayor Justin Elicker, another of the sledgehammer-wielders.
“Tear down the damn wall!” echoed U.S. Rep. Rosa DeLauro.
Drywall fell as the officials hit the wall, and the room celebrated.