“Governor Malloy announced today [February 18, 2016] at the State Armory that Connecticut has ended homelessness among the state’s veteran population.” So reads the lead sentence in a Partnership for Strong Communities and Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness joint announcement about the success of Connecticut’s Zero: 2016 initiative.
Excerpts from the announcement read:
- “The Zero: 2016 initiative is part of a national effort to end veteran homelessness and chronic homelessness, the long-term homelessness of people living with disabilities, by the end of 2016. Connecticut is one of only four states accepted into the effort through its Reaching Home Campaign, the statewide campaign for preventing and ending homelessness in Connecticut.”
- ““Ending veteran homelessness,” as defined by the U.S. Interagency Council on Homelessness, means that Connecticut has successfully developed a system whereby every veteran who experiences homelessness will be quickly identified and provided appropriate supports and housing.”
Tremendous commitment and hard work has led to this truly significant achievement, one to be very much celebrated. However, there is no doubt that much more work is required to reach all the homeless, and walk with them to a life changing opportunity.
Read the joint announcement, and then read Susan Campbell’s blog: “About that ending of homelessness in CT…”. Her blog puts a real world context around this remarkable achievement.
Don Shaw, Jr.
Writer and Editor
RedTruckStonecatcher.com
Red Truck Stonecatcher 