Gavin's Update - June / July 2025

We are beginning to notice another rise in encampments getting shut down. Just in the past 2 weeks, we have received calls about 5 different encampments needing relocation assistance. With the constant relocation of our clients, not only is it taking a massive toll on them physically, but it is affecting their mental health as well. Some clients have shared with me that they feel less than human after having to relocate all of their belongings to go and “hide away” in another location that they are not familiar with. Also, with having to relocate many individuals in a given time frame, we are running out of available areas to place these clients. We are fearful that if we set them up in a new location that it could be shut down very soon after.



This past week we were fortunate enough to house one of our clients who had been struggling with homelessness for the past 18 months. This individual has been very driven and motivated to get out of the situation he was in and was just getting the short end of the stick with job applications and housing opportunities. He began to feel very down and started to lose hope that nothing would go his way. Fortunately, luck started to come his way. He was able to get into a job program that will help him get his cosmetology license renewed so he can go back to work as a barber. We also were able to get him set up with a rooming house so he has a comfortable place to call his own and to allow him to focus on other important things such as employment and working on his mental health. He had such a huge smile on his face when we entered the unit for the first time and we are extremely proud of the work he has put in to better his situation along with being proud of his perseverance and his ability to keep pushing forward when things get tough. 

This summer has been unusually hotter than our average summers in CT. With this, we have been fortunate for the state to activate the “Hot Weather Protocol” a few times so far this summer. This means that once the temperatures reach over 90 degrees that the Governor has cooling centers across the state open up for folks to go and cool off or get water and relax in a cooler setting than outside. In Waterbury, there are also some splash pads around the city at local parks for people and children to access as well. We continue to be grateful to the City and everyone in the community that helps support our mission.