Rep. Fishbein Tours the Coordinated Access Network to Reduce Homelessness

Rep. Fishbein joined the United Way of CT, Rep. Hilda Santiago, staff from Senator Murphy’s office, homelessness advocates, and concerned stakeholders for a tour of the Coordinated Access Network, Connecticut’s leading-edge system for reducing homelessness. The network is made up of several separate agencies working together to find permanent solutions to the state’s homelessness crisis.

The group started with a brief overview of available network services before taking a tour of the 2-1-1 call center in Rocky Hill, which is the central access point for people facing a housing crisis.  After a brief drive to Middletown, Felicity Eles, Meriden/Middlesex/Wallingford CAN coordinator, described the process further, making the link between the call center and connection to services. That connection was further solidified with a brief tour of the Eddy Shelter in Middletown where program director Lee Anne Borkowski described how her staff works to help people the transition from shelter to permanent housing. Ms. Borkowski said they aim to place guests with a permanent housing solutions within 30 days but it frequently takes longer because many people arrive without identification, a birth certificate or social security card which take time to replace.

According to statistics provided by 2-1-1, from January 28, 2019, through January 27, 2020, they received 254,314 calls, and 327,374 requests for assistance statewide. In Rep. Fishbein’s district, there were 1,999 requests for assistance during the same period. Of those, 487 were related to housing and shelter, with 208 being specifically related to shelters.