New Fed Grant Helps Friendship Center Enhance Shelter On Arch Street

A $1 million federal grant to New Britain’s Friendship Center (FSC) on Arch Street will support expansion of the facility, including the installation of private restrooms and other capital and maintenance improvements.

U.S. Rep. Jahana Hayes (D-5) and FSC Executive Director Caitlin Rose announced the new funding on April 3rd which stems from approval of federal money under the Community Project Funding (CPF). Also known as “earmarks”, the new appropriations provide funding outside of annual categorical or block grants.

The FSC, other nonprofits and local governments submitted proposals to Rep. Hayes and the state’s congressional delegation for consideration in the long-delayed federal budget for the current fiscal year. New Britain also received CPF grants for the city’s sewer improvement program known as FLUSH ($959,752) and for acquisitions by Neighborhood Housing Services to build affordable housing ($175,000). A Congressional stalemate was finally broken in March paving the way for earmark money.

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CPF funding will address urgent needs at the shelter as the number of people falling into homelessness has risen sharply over the last three years. “We do not have enough bathrooms for the number of people that we are serving and we also do not have enough that are individualized to allow people to have privacy and dignity,” said Rose. The federal money will replace dormitory-style restrooms, improve plumbing and HVAC systems and expand space.

Sarah Fox, the CEO of the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, joined Rep. Hayes and Rose at the announcement and stated that many people in Connecticut including women and children are falling into crisis because they do not have a roof over their heads. Fox said the federal grant is a step toward “providing dignity, providing quality services, meeting people where they are at and then helping people get housed. That is where we want to be in the state.”

“We need ongoing state level commitments for annualized funding to make sure we have the workforce and the homeless response system which is a system of care to help people when they fall into homelessness,” said Fox.

Advocates are currently urging Governor Lamont and the Legislature to increase support for emergency shelter and housing support services by $20 million. Service providers point to the shortage of affordable housing, post-pandemic rent increases and waiting lists for housing stipends as major factors in the displacement of families, children and individuals from their homes and apartments.

“Connecticut has seen a 14% rise in homelessness year over year since 2021 and is experiencing the highest reported unsheltered crisis in recent history, according to the CT Coalition. “Homelessness in the state has been declared a public health crisis, but the Homeless Response System tasked with solving that crisis has not been provided consistent or adequate resources to achieve this goal.”

FSC operates a 39-bed emergency shelter for men, women and children that is located in the Virginia C. Davis Building. The shelter facility has been located on Arch Street since 1992 for short-term intervention and case management services. FSC, a primary provider of services for the unhoused in central Connecticut, also operates the Hope Connection Center (HCC) on Arch Street, a drop-in center for people at risk of or experiencing homelessness. It provides services like financial literacy, substance use recovery support, mental health, and employment. It also maintains facilities for showers and laundry. FSC relies on support from local, state and federal funding sources, philanthropic grants and donations.