Cornerstone Rallying Regional Efforts For Winter Homelessness

VERNON, CT — The Cornerstone Foundation, a faith-based private non-profit organization in Vernon that runs a regional shelter, is taking a lead role to coordinate "cold weather solutions" for the "unsheltered homeless population" in the Greater Hartford area.

Cornerstone will be working with funding available and interested partners to identify possible options that will allow social service groups to "keep more residents without a safe place to sleep, out of the cold this winter."

"We need to do more as a society to address the needs of the most vulnerable in our
communities," Cornerstone Deputy Director Bryan Flint Sr. said. "Addressing this on a more regional level, will bring together more resources to improve the outcomes for people, both more effectively and more efficiently. The results will be more successful when working together."

Solutions may include fully utilizing available shelter spaces, a warming center and /or utilizing hotels."

Flint said it is anticipated that there will be limited shelter capacity at Hartford's Warming Center this year due to increased health and safety concerns related to the coronavirus pandemic.

"Because of this, Cornerstone has offered to help lead the effort in the suburbs, along with support from the Salvation Army, which annually leads the winter shelter effort for the Greater Hartford region, Flint said.

Working with the Greater Hartford Coordinated Access Network, Cornerstone will
be connecting with municipalities to seek solutions to increase capacity.

"Through this process we will be strengthening existing relationships and establishing new partnerships," Flint said.

The GH CAN's most strategic partnership is with United Way's 2-1-1 system. In Connecticut,
the organization serves as the "front-door" to almost every resource possible.

"For housing issues specifically, they have the most comprehensive information to assist callers," Fling said. "If it is determined that there is no immediate alternative to becoming homeless, they arrange a more in-depth assessment with the GH-CAN for the individual, couple or family to determine their actual needs and suggest solutions."

To seek assistance, those with housing needs can call 2-1-1 and listen for the prompts 3, then 1, then 1 to be able to speak to a housing specialist.