In this past year, once again there continue to remain individuals and families in the Bristol area who experience problems that make them homeless. The Homeless Shelter housed and worked with 131 single men, 74 single women, 32 family adults and 45 children, for a total of 282 individuals. 59% of the singles who left the shelter accessed housing or treatment, and 58% of the family members accessed housing or treatment. The Elms Transitional Living Center housed and worked with 29 single men. Of the 16 men who left during the year, 10 (63%) accessed housing or treatment. The Women with Children Transitional Center housed and worked with 19 mothers and 23 children. Of the 9 families that left during the year, 6 (67%) accessed housing. Our dedicated staff has worked very hard to provide a high quality service for the homeless in Bristol and the surrounding area. 

This past year has recorded many accomplishments. We continue to receive and submit US Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) grant renewals for the Elms and Women with Children Transitional Centers ($348,849). We also received continued State of Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS) grant funds for the Elms Transitional Living Center and our Homeless Shelter ($331,839). An Archdiocese of Hartford grant of $72,000 filled a tremendous gap in our Operating Budget this past year and was instrumental in allowing us to continue providing our services, providing for the successful shelter and transitional outcomes, and the acquisition of 8 Permanent Supportive Housing Units through the Dept. of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) “Next Step” Program for chronically homeless individuals.  With continued cost containment, sufficient funds were acquired from donors and other sources this year to maintain our small reserve fund at approximately $130,000 into the next (current) fiscal year. The Archdiocese commitment to the work of the St. Vincent DePaul Mission has helped us to contain our annual projected deficits and inspired us to increase our efforts to work toward ending homelessness. 

Another new small DSS grant of $25,000 annually has established our SSI/SSDI Access Outreach and Recovery (SOAR) Model Project. This project will increase our ability and capacity to help chronically homeless people secure Social Security and Social Security Disability Income as the financial resource necessary for their acquisition of Permanent Housing. The SVDP Homeless Shelter allows clients to stay in the shelter for up to 90 days.    Due to the short stays, additional case management time targeted to potential Social Security and Social Security Disability Income application is crucial and the staff time devoted to following up with case management after they leave the shelter is also critical. 

The Bristol Continuum of Care Committee (BCOC) co-chaired by Tom Morrow (Executive Director of the Bristol Community Organization) and Mitzy Rowe (Executive Director of the Bristol Housing Authority), continued another year of planning for homeless services in Bristol. This BCOC is an integral part and effort of housing for the homeless. Its strategic plan is the application of renewal funding from HUD.  St. Vincent DePaul Mission of Bristol, Inc. (SVDP), through its Executive Director, has taken a major role in developing, working and leading this committee. It is a major effort but a crucial part of the SVDP continued effort to provide homeless services to the Bristol community. 

A new important effort was started in Bristol this past year, the Mayor’s Winter “09” Planning Committee. Mayor Art Ward, reacting proactively to projected severe economic conditions and the mid summer (2008) high cost of heating fuel, organized city departments, local organizations and non-profit agencies to plan for an increase in homelessness in the city. As part of this effort, the SVDP Mission planned to house an additional 10 people by converting the dinning room each night into a dormitory to house people made homeless because of no heat. Efforts were well on there way to recruit volunteers from the community, train them, and place them on call to monitor this additional group.   Fortunately, as of this writing, the price of heating fuel plummeted and the on – call system has not been initiated. 

Finally, even though it is difficult for us to document all the in-kind donations and support that we receive from the community, a few still need to be noted. Ed and Mary Smith again continue to supply the food and to cook the Monday evening meal for the Shelter. They have been doing this forever and it is the most highly anticipated meal of the week. The Collins Family of Bristol continues to successfully organize the Shamrock Run Fundraiser for our benefit, raising $15,000 annually for our Programs. Many, many other people donated their time and goods to help the homeless, from the Board of Directors to the needed item collections through the various schools, churches and community organizations. We thank them all very much. 

So, while the year was difficult, as usual, commitment and effort by staff and community was high. All should find peace and happiness for what they have contributed. 

 

Respectfully yours,

  

Phillip J Lysiak

Executive Director