Northwest CT

As part of the application process for federal homeless assistance grants, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) requires that all funding recipients across the country conduct an annual count of the number of people experiencing homelessness within the last ten days of the month of January. This includes the number of people who were in Emergency shelter, Transitional Housing and Safe Havens as well as those who were unsheltered, meaning living in places not meant for human habitation such as in cars, under bridges, or on the streets. 

In collaboration with statewide partners, the annual PIT Count allows Northwest CT to:

• Collect data to inform our efforts and progress in ending homelessness
• Develop a consistent methodology for collecting reliable data to measure program/system effectiveness
• Help service providers and policy makers better understand the needs of our homeless populations to design effective interventions

Results from the January 2024 Point-In-Time [PIT] Count showed that in Northwest CT there were 253 people identified as homeless, with 44 of them identified as unsheltered and living in places not meant for human habitation on the coldest night of the year. 

This new Rural Permanent Supportive Housing initiative in partnership with CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and funded by HUD will support up to 12 households in Litchfield County who are unsheltered and experiencing homelessness, have severe services needs and are located in rural areas where CoC services have until now been entirely unavailable. ODI Northwest CT staff will support the coordination and integration of this pilot program within the regional homelessness emergency response system. The initiative team will include staff dedicated to landlord recruitment, engagement & retention.

This regional committee of leadership and mid-level management staff from ODI Northwest CT partner agencies is designed to improve collaboration amongst all organizations within the NW CAN across the Greater Waterbury and Greater Torrington sub-communities. This group is tasked with the implementation of all approved policies and procedures for the regional homeless response system as defined by CT BOS, including community specific policies & procedures, and ongoing funding opportunities.

With Northwest CT’s identified priorities as a framework, information and resources shared at monthly CAN Leadership meetings ensure that Northwest CT’s regional homeless response system partners are well-informed and appropriately resourced at all times. 

Welcome Home, Neighbor is a program that helps property partners operate profitable rental properties while removing barriers for neighbors to regain safe and stable homes in their community. The program recruits and supports property management companies, owners, landlords, investors, and developers by providing: financial incentives, including a Damage & Lost Rent Fund; dedicated point of contact for property owners and managers; easy-to-use software for listing availability and receiving applications; support from local service providers assisting households with stable tenancies.