MASH Receives grant from People's United Community Foundation

Mystic Area Shelter & Hospitality, Inc. (MASH) has received a generous grant from People’s United Community Foundation to address the problem of family homelessness in our communities. The $2,500 funding will directly support MASH’s ongoing efforts to find sustainable housing solutions for homeless and at-risk families, and to troubleshoot employment issues that can impact long-term housing stability.

MASH’s mission is Preventing Family Homelessness, One Family at a Time. Since its founding in 1998, this 501(C)(3) non-profit has provided critical housing assistance to over 1,200 children and parents in Southeastern Connecticut. Last year, as part of the Southeastern Connecticut Coordinated Access Network (CAN), MASH diverted from shelter 85% of families in housing crisis. Though progress has been made in reducing the number of families entering emergency shelter, the need for services is greater than ever. Annually MASH, with the help of other regional CAN providers, serves over 350 families who are homeless or within 14 days of homelessness.

According to Jeff Anderson, Executive Director of MASH, “The best way to end family homelessness is to prevent it from ever happening in the first place. But the reality is that many of Connecticut’s hardworking families live on the edge of homelessness. A relatively minor financial crisis can cause them to be at risk of losing their housing. A car repair, a cut in work hours or a sick child - these are all reasons that a family earning minimum wage ends up on the doorstep of homelessness.”

People’s United Community Foundation’s mission is to invest in programs and services that enhance the quality of life for residents, promote the economic development and well-being of neighborhoods and support the educational and developmental needs of children and youth, with special emphasis given to programs and services in low-income areas.