This photo haunts me. How are the Hartford area homeless families that once slept in these beds coping today? Where are they? Where is home? On a freezing February 11, 2020, one of the fifteen Tuesday nights from this past December through March that Hartford’s Immanuel Congregational Church volunteered as an overflow shelter during the … More Where Are They Now?
Indifference manifests itself in ignorance, silence and blind acceptance. Turning our backs to the injustices suffered by the marginalized, vulnerable, and victimized in our local communities and around the world is a weak and heartless admission that the status quo is just fine with us when it doesn’t affect our lives directly — at least … More Indifference Helps the Oppressor, Never the Oppressed
Twenty months ago on July 5, 2016, Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation (Mercy) welcomed its first clients to its newly created Diversion Center at St. Elizabeth House on Main Street in Hartford. Faced with diminishing federal and state financial support for Mercy’s long-established transitional housing programs, Executive Director Dave Martineau, now retired, and current ED … More Life Saving Diversions at St. Elizabeth House
Just over ten years ago I met “Sister Pat.” At the time, Patricia M. McKeon, RSM, was executive director of Mercy Housing and Shelter Corporation in Hartford. She was my team lead on one of several Hartford Commission to End Homelessness in the Capitol Region committees organized to create the Commission’s implementation plan. Our team, comprised of many organizations … More Friendship is at the Center
“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 … More Ending Veteran Homelessness
Red Truck Stonecatcher 