Resources

The U.S. Department of Housing & Urban Development is is proposing a drastic and immediate change to the Continuum of Care (CoC) program, the main source of federal funding to help end homelessness in Connecticut. This fact sheet outlines the statewide impact of these changes.

While communities strive towards providing permanent housing for all who need it, they are still faced with serving the existing unsheltered population, prompting the question: “What do we do in the meantime?” The strategies in this document explain how communities might respond in these situations.

VeteransGuide.org and the 2025 Veterans Affairs Disability Calculator, an initiative by the Disability Advocate Group, LLC, is dedicated to helping U.S. armed forces veterans understand and secure the VA disability compensation they deserve. 

The CT Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services (DMHAS) Latino Outreach Program provides regional community outreach services designed to reduce the stigma that surrounds substance use in the Latino community. Latino Outreach workers provide informational sessions and training in traditional settings such as social service agencies as well as non-traditional settings within the Latino community to raise awareness on overdose prevention and substance use programs.

Harm reduction includes a range of policies, programs, and practices that meet vulnerable individuals like runaway and homeless youth where they're at. Harm reduction practices are designed to acknowledge and reduce the risks young people face every day by developing youth-centered strategies to enhance safety in ways that work for them. Learn how to embed harm reduction techniques into your work with youth during COVID-19 and beyond to create brave spaces where youth get the care and services they deserve.

The Trump administration will increase the use of raids and other enforcement actions conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (“ICE”). This document, prepared by the National Homelessness Law Center and Crowell & Moring LLP, outlines what homeless shelters and other public service providers can do from a practical level to best protect clients and staff before, during, and after a raid.

This resource from the National Alliance to End Homelessness outlines a Housing-Focused Street Outreach Framework designed to help communities engage people experiencing unsheltered homelessness. It provides strategies for connecting individuals to permanent housing quickly and effectively through person-centered outreach, case management, and system coordination.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness provides toolkits and training materials on Permanent Supportive Housing, a proven solution that combines affordable housing with voluntary support services to help people with chronic homelessness achieve stability and independence. It offers guidance on best practices, implementation, and service coordination.

This resource explains trauma-informed care as a way for organizations to understand and respond to the effects of trauma. It focuses on creating safe, supportive spaces where people feel respected and empowered. Key ideas include safety, trust, and avoiding further harm. It also gives tips for making programs more trauma-aware through staff training and supportive policies.

The HUD Exchange page on "Centering Lived Experience" focuses on the importance of including individuals who have experienced homelessness in the planning and decision-making processes of Continuum of Care (CoC) programs. It promotes meaningful engagement by ensuring that their voices are heard, respected, and influence real change. The page highlights practices such as compensation, leadership development, and creating inclusive spaces to prevent tokenism and strengthen system effectiveness. 

This page explains how to apply for various benefits and services through the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS). Applicants can apply online, by phone, by mail, or in person. The page also highlights options for assistance to individuals with disabilities to help access programs like health coverage, food assistance, and cash aid.

SOAR (SSI/SSDI Outreach, Access, and Recovery) is a program through SAMHSA designed to help individuals experiencing or at risk of homelessness—and who also have serious mental illness, medical impairments, or co-occurring substance use disorders—gain access to Supplemental Security Income (SSI) and Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI). It accomplishes this by training case managers, offering technical assistance, and facilitating inter-agency coordination to improve application approval rates and speed.

The Conflict Resolution Network (CRN) website is dedicated to teaching practical, easy-to-understand skills for resolving conflicts in everyday life. These skills apply across a range of settings, including families, workplaces, communities, and even international contexts. CRN promotes a collaborative, win/win approach and provides tools like empathy, assertiveness, and conflict mapping to help people manage and resolve disputes effectively.

This resource introduces Motivational Interviewing as a practical, client-centered approach to helping people experiencing homelessness make positive changes in their lives. It provides training tools and techniques for service providers to engage clients through empathy, active listening, and goal-focused conversations.

This website supports SOAR-trained case workers in assisting adults (18+) experiencing or at risk of homelessness with serious mental illness, medical conditions, and/or substance use disorders. The SOAR Online Application Tracking (OAT) system allows secure tracking and reporting of SSI/SSDI application outcomes to improve access to disability benefits. 

The Emergency Shelter Learning Series provides guidance and tools to help shelters become more effective and accessible. Focused on a Housing First approach, it offers webinars and resources to improve shelter practices and better support people in crisis.

This video from the Homeless and Housing Resource Center highlights five practical strategies for making shelters more welcoming and accessible to people experiencing homelessness. It focuses on removing common obstacles that keep individuals from entering or staying in shelters, such as strict rules or unsafe environments. The video encourages adopting trauma-informed, low-barrier approaches that prioritize safety, dignity, and trust-building between staff and residents.

This webinar explores how emergency shelters can be redesigned to support people experiencing homelessness by focusing on housing outcomes. It highlights strategies for creating low-barrier, trauma-informed shelter environments that prioritize safety, dignity, and easy access. The discussion includes how shelters can integrate the voices of people with lived experience and align more closely with permanent housing goals to improve overall system effectiveness.

The Connecticut Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV) offers a variety of training sessions focused on supporting survivors through crisis intervention, mental health awareness, legal advocacy, and safety planning. Their trainings also address important topics like pet advocacy and community education to strengthen overall responses to domestic violence.