Facts

  • Comparing July – September 2008 to the same period in 2006, the Community Soup Kitchen in New Haven has experienced a 25% increase in the number of people served (based on an unduplicated count). According to the CT Food Bank, the increase in meals served and number of people served by the Community Soup Kitchen is typical of the increased need and demand evident throughout the greater New Haven service area.

  • There has been a 13% increase in service requests to 2-1-1 for food assistance from our region (424 requests in October 2008 compared to 375 requests in October 2007).

  • Food pantry and soup kitchen providers from the Dixwell, Newhallville and Highwood  neighborhoods of New Haven and Hamden indicated that more seniors, unemployed women and children are utilizing emergency food services over the last few months.

  • There has been a 79% increase in the energy assistance caseload for our region (managed by Community Action Agency) between November 2007 and November 2008, from 2,586 cases in 2007 to 4,637 in 2008.

  • There has been a 35% increase in service requests to 2-1-1 for utilities/heat assistance from our region (1,136 requests in October 2008 compared to 858 requests in October 2007).

  • In New Haven there has been a 5% increase in homeless individuals and in Connecticut a 13% increase in families this year, compared to last year.

  • In New Haven there has been an increase of almost 13% in the number of homeless single women. Women are also losing their children to foster care once they are no longer able to provide shelter.

  • Before the overflow shelter opened in November, Columbus House was turning away 8-10 men a night. They would be referred to Emergency Shelter Management Services (Immanuel Baptist), which is also operating at capacity.

  • It costs area shelters approximately $110 a night to provide shelter for one family and $55 for one individual.   

  • In New Haven, it costs approximately $600 to help a mother and two children move out of emergency shelter into secure and affordable housing.

  • It costs a food pantry approximately $50 to provide a family of three with groceries for a week.

  • Jewish Family Service in New Haven has seen a significant increase in requests for food assistance as well as an increase in use of their Food Pantry.

  • Jewish Family Service and area synagogues have seen an increase in households facing eviction.

  • The number of homes lost to foreclosure in New Haven has risen steeply in 2008 (293 during the first three quarters of 2008, compared to 165 for all of 2007).

  • The majority of foreclosures affect owner-occupied housing. 

  • In New Haven there are 769 vacant dwellings and approximately 1,000 homes in the last stage before foreclose.

  • Data from Community Mediation indicates that the need for the security deposit and eviction prevention/foreclosure assistance program has spiked considerably since June 2008 – the program averages 125+ inquiries monthly for emergency housing assistance.

  • There has been a large increase in domestic violence screenings, hot line calls, and referrals from health providers. Domestic Violence Services has reported that larger families with more children are in need of shelter from violence, and that families are now staying in their shelter more than twice as long as the 60-day rule. nthly for emergency housing assistance.

  • The number of single adults seeking shelter and services for substance abuse and mental health needs from ALSO/Cornerstone has doubled.

  • Jewish Family Service, area synagogues, schools and the Jewish Federation and Foundation have experienced a marked increase in requests for a broad range of emergency services related to loss of employment.

  • 211 data show a marked increase in calls from towns of Hamden, East Haven, North Haven, and North Branford when comparing October 2008 to October 2007. 

  • The unemployment rate in our region has increased from 4.4% in November 2007 to 6.8% in November 2008.

 

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