Columbus House

TO SERVE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS, OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS, BY PROVIDING SHELTER AND BY FOSTERING THEIR PERSONAL GROWTH AND INDEPENDENCE.

SHELTER AND SERVICESCOLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN NEW HAVEN, WALLINGFORD AND MIDDLETOWN. IN NEW HAVEN, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO 17 MEN IN RECOVERY AT RECOVERY HOUSE, WHILE AT THE MAIN SHELTER, 81 BEDS PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER TO SINGLE ADULTS. DURING WINTER MONTHS, A SEASONAL SHELTER IS PROVIDED TO 75 MEN. IN ADDITION, IN COLLABORATION WITH CONGREGATIONS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY, SHELTER IS PROVIDED FOR 12 PEOPLE IN SOCIAL HALLS OF THESE CONGREGATIONS FOR 5 MONTHS DURING THE WINTER SEASON. COLUMBUS HOUSE ALSO PROVIDES SEASONAL WARMING CENTERS IN HAMDEN AND MIDDLETOWN, PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR UP TO 65 PEOPLE DURING THE COLDEST WINTER MONTHS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER WAS SEVERLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVED SHELTER CLIENTS IN HOTELS TO MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCING AND MITIGATE VIRAL SPREAD AMONG STAFF AND CLIENT POPULATIONS. ALSO IN NEW HAVEN, COLUMBUS HOUSE OPERATES A MEDICAL RESPITE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL("YNHH"). PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO THIS 12 BED PROGRAM FOR RECUPERATIVE MEDICAL CARE FOLLOWING IN- PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. CLIENTS STAY FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. A YNHH NURSE IS ON-SITE FOR 20 HOURS PER WEEK, WITH ADDITIONAL NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED EVENINGS AND ON WEEKENDS. A COLUMBUS HOUSE CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH THESE CLIENTS TO SECURE HOUSING ONCE DISCHARGED FROM THE PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES - THROUGHOUT ALL PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. THESE INCLUDE HOUSING READINESS AND SEARCH SERVICES, REFERRAL TO MEDICAL AND BEHAVORIAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND TO BENEFIT ENTITLEMENTS, TRAINING IN DAILY LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES AS NEEDED. A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM ASSISTS CLIENTS IN PAYING THEIR RENT AND BILLS SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. STAFF ARE TRAINED IN BEST PRACTICES OF HOUSING FIRST, HARM REDUCTION, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, PERSON CENTERED PLANNING AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. A SAMHSA FUNDED PROGRAM, FUNDED FOR 5 YEARS, INCLUDES FIVE STAFF WITH A FOCUS ON STREET OUTREACH, REFERRALS TO TREATMENT AND HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS AND PEOPLE IN FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.VETERAN SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDE HARKNESS HOUSE, WHICH PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR VETERANS ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SPECIALISTS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVES MORE THAN 400 VETERANS ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR COMMUNITY SUPPORT INCLUDES A HUD FUNDED DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INTENDED TO SEEK OUT HOMELESS YOUTH AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES THEY NEED TO GET AND MAINTAIN HOUSING.

HOUSING SERVICES - IN 2021, COLUMBUS HOUSE HOUSED 450 PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, SHARED HOUSING OR INDEPENDENT LIVING. CLOSE TO 400 OF THOSE HOUSED RECEIVED SUPPORT SERVICES FROM COLUMBUS HOUSE STAFF WHILE HOUSED. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS PROVIDED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, MOST OFTEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS AND FAMILIES, AND INCLUDES HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AS LONG AS THE CLIENT NEEDS IT. RAPID REHOUSING INCLUDES SHORT TERM SHALLOW SUBSIDIES WITH A LIGHT TOUGH OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SHARED HOUSING ENABLES THOSE WITHOUT SUBSIDIES TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TO SHARE AN APARTMENT, EACH HOLDING A LEASE WITH THE LANDLORD. CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IN ALL HOUSING PROGRAMS IS FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE REMAIN HOUSED BY ATTENDING TO THE TERMS OF THEIR LEASE , WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELPING CLIENTS TO INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH REFERRALS TO MAINSTREAM SERVICES, REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY, EMPLOYMENT AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.COLUMBUS HOUSE IS ALSO A HOUSING DEVELOPER. COMPLETED IN 2015, VAL MACRI WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND MANAGES. THIS SMALL COMPLEX HAS 17 UNITS, HOUSING BOTH VERY LOW INCOME SINGLE ADULTS AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE. IN 2020 RENOVATIONS ON SHEPHERD HOMES, A 32 UNIT BUILDING IN MIDDLETOWN, WERE COMPLETED. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS INTENDED FOR BOTH LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS WITH A PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS. FINALLY, IN 2020, COLUMBUS HOUSE COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE PROPERTIES IN MIDDLETOWN FORMERLY OWNED BY THE NEHEMIAH CORPORATION. DUE TO THIS ACQUISITON, THESE BUILDINGS COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS CHI PETERSON, REPRESENT 27 UNITS, WHICH WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS - IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS CT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, IN ENCAMPMENTS, IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS. COLUMBUS HOUSE STAFF PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH IN NEW HAVEN AND MIDDLETOWN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OR CANNOT COME INTO THE SHELTERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL IS TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE INTO HOUSING BY PROVIDING REGULAR ENGAGEMENT AND, ULTIMATELY, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES A TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE RIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND IN NEED OF GETTING TO AND FROM MEDICAL OR TREATMENT RELATED APPOINTMENTS, ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.

SHELTER AND SERVICESCOLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES EMERGENCY SHELTER AND CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES IN NEW HAVEN, WALLINGFORD AND MIDDLETOWN. IN NEW HAVEN, INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IS PROVIDED TO 17 MEN IN RECOVERY AT RECOVERY HOUSE, WHILE AT THE MAIN SHELTER, 81 BEDS PROVIDE EMERGENCY SHELTER TO SINGLE ADULTS. DURING WINTER MONTHS, A SEASONAL SHELTER IS PROVIDED TO 75 MEN. IN ADDITION, IN COLLABORATION WITH CONGREGATIONS IN THE FAITH COMMUNITY, SHELTER IS PROVIDED FOR 12 PEOPLE IN SOCIAL HALLS OF THESE CONGREGATIONS FOR 5 MONTHS DURING THE WINTER SEASON. COLUMBUS HOUSE ALSO PROVIDES SEASONAL WARMING CENTERS IN HAMDEN AND MIDDLETOWN, PROVIDING EMERGENCY SHELTER FOR UP TO 65 PEOPLE DURING THE COLDEST WINTER MONTHS. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, THE PROVISION OF EMERGENCY SHELTER WAS SEVERLY IMPACTED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC. COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVED SHELTER CLIENTS IN HOTELS TO MAINTAIN SAFE DISTANCING AND MITIGATE VIRAL SPREAD AMONG STAFF AND CLIENT POPULATIONS. ALSO IN NEW HAVEN, COLUMBUS HOUSE OPERATES A MEDICAL RESPITE PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH YALE NEW HAVEN HOSPITAL("YNHH"). PATIENTS ARE REFERRED TO THIS 12 BED PROGRAM FOR RECUPERATIVE MEDICAL CARE FOLLOWING IN- PATIENT HOSPITALIZATION. CLIENTS STAY FOR UP TO 30 DAYS. A YNHH NURSE IS ON-SITE FOR 20 HOURS PER WEEK, WITH ADDITIONAL NURSING SERVICES PROVIDED EVENINGS AND ON WEEKENDS. A COLUMBUS HOUSE CASE MANAGER WORKS WITH THESE CLIENTS TO SECURE HOUSING ONCE DISCHARGED FROM THE PROGRAM.

COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES - THROUGHOUT ALL PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT TO HELP PEOPLE OBTAIN OR MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. THESE INCLUDE HOUSING READINESS AND SEARCH SERVICES, REFERRAL TO MEDICAL AND BEHAVORIAL HEALTH TREATMENT AND TO BENEFIT ENTITLEMENTS, TRAINING IN DAILY LIVING SKILLS, EMPLOYMENT SERVICES AND OTHER SERVICES AS NEEDED. A REPRESENTATIVE PAYEE PROGRAM ASSISTS CLIENTS IN PAYING THEIR RENT AND BILLS SO THEY CAN MAINTAIN THEIR HOUSING. STAFF ARE TRAINED IN BEST PRACTICES OF HOUSING FIRST, HARM REDUCTION, MOTIVATIONAL INTERVIEWING, PERSON CENTERED PLANNING AND TRAUMA INFORMED CARE. A SAMHSA FUNDED PROGRAM, FUNDED FOR 5 YEARS, INCLUDES FIVE STAFF WITH A FOCUS ON STREET OUTREACH, REFERRALS TO TREATMENT AND HOUSING FOR YOUNG ADULTS, ADULTS AND PEOPLE IN FAMILIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING HOMELESSNESS.VETERAN SPECIFIC SERVICES INCLUDE HARKNESS HOUSE, WHICH PROVIDES TEMPORARY HOUSING FOR VETERANS ALONG WITH CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. IN ADDITION, SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FOR VETERAN FAMILIES PROVIDES CASE MANAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING AND BENEFITS SPECIALISTS FOR VETERANS WHO ARE HOMELESS OR AT RISK OF BECOMING HOMELESS. THROUGH THESE AND OTHER PROGRAMS, COLUMBUS HOUSE SERVES MORE THAN 400 VETERANS ANNUALLY. THIS YEAR COMMUNITY SUPPORT INCLUDES A HUD FUNDED DEMONSTRATION PROJECT INTENDED TO SEEK OUT HOMELESS YOUTH AND PROVIDE THEM WITH THE SUPPORT SERVICES THEY NEED TO GET AND MAINTAIN HOUSING.

HOUSING SERVICES - IN 2021, COLUMBUS HOUSE HOUSED 450 PEOPLE IN PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING, RAPID REHOUSING, SHARED HOUSING OR INDEPENDENT LIVING. CLOSE TO 400 OF THOSE HOUSED RECEIVED SUPPORT SERVICES FROM COLUMBUS HOUSE STAFF WHILE HOUSED. PERMANENT SUPPORTIVE HOUSING IS PROVIDED FOR THE MOST VULNERABLE, MOST OFTEN CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS AND FAMILIES, AND INCLUDES HOUSING SUBSIDIES AND SUPPORT SERVICES FOR AS LONG AS THE CLIENT NEEDS IT. RAPID REHOUSING INCLUDES SHORT TERM SHALLOW SUBSIDIES WITH A LIGHT TOUGH OF SUPPORTIVE SERVICES. SHARED HOUSING ENABLES THOSE WITHOUT SUBSIDIES TO POOL THEIR RESOURCES TO SHARE AN APARTMENT, EACH HOLDING A LEASE WITH THE LANDLORD. CASE MANAGEMENT SUPPORT IN ALL HOUSING PROGRAMS IS FOCUSED ON HELPING PEOPLE REMAIN HOUSED BY ATTENDING TO THE TERMS OF THEIR LEASE , WHILE AT THE SAME TIME HELPING CLIENTS TO INTEGRATE INTO THE COMMUNITY WITH REFERRALS TO MAINSTREAM SERVICES, REUNIFICATION WITH FAMILY, EMPLOYMENT AND VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES AND OTHER COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES.COLUMBUS HOUSE IS ALSO A HOUSING DEVELOPER. COMPLETED IN 2015, VAL MACRI WAS THE FIRST DEVELOPMENT THE ORGANIZATION OWNS AND MANAGES. THIS SMALL COMPLEX HAS 17 UNITS, HOUSING BOTH VERY LOW INCOME SINGLE ADULTS AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS PEOPLE. IN 2020 RENOVATIONS ON SHEPHERD HOMES, A 32 UNIT BUILDING IN MIDDLETOWN, WERE COMPLETED. THIS DEVELOPMENT IS INTENDED FOR BOTH LOW AND VERY LOW INCOME AND CHRONICALLY HOMELESS ADULTS WITH A PREFERENCE FOR VETERANS. FINALLY, IN 2020, COLUMBUS HOUSE COMPLETED THE ACQUISITION OF FIVE PROPERTIES IN MIDDLETOWN FORMERLY OWNED BY THE NEHEMIAH CORPORATION. DUE TO THIS ACQUISITON, THESE BUILDINGS COLLECTIVELY REFERRED TO AS CHI PETERSON, REPRESENT 27 UNITS, WHICH WILL REMAIN AFFORDABLE HOUSING IN THIS COMMUNITY.

OUTREACH PROGRAMS - IN MANY COMMUNITIES ACROSS CT, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS WHO ARE LIVING ON THE STREETS, IN ENCAMPMENTS, IN ABANDONED BUILDINGS. COLUMBUS HOUSE STAFF PROVIDE STREET OUTREACH IN NEW HAVEN AND MIDDLETOWN TO WORK WITH PEOPLE WHO DO NOT OR CANNOT COME INTO THE SHELTERS IN THOSE COMMUNITIES. THE GOAL IS TO HELP MOVE PEOPLE INTO HOUSING BY PROVIDING REGULAR ENGAGEMENT AND, ULTIMATELY, CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES. THE ORGANIZATION ALSO PROVIDES A TRANSPORTATION PROGRAM THAT OFFERS FREE RIDES FOR PEOPLE WHO ARE HOMELESS AND IN NEED OF GETTING TO AND FROM MEDICAL OR TREATMENT RELATED APPOINTMENTS, ANYWHERE IN THE STATE.