GROTON -- The wind howled and rain poured down Tuesday morning as community and social service leaders from across the region met at a Groton hotel to discuss homelessness.

"Let's remember that there are people outside trying to live in this," said Lee Ann Gomes, the director of social work at Norwich Human Services.

Advocates from throughout Southeastern Connecticut spent the meeting discussing progress made during the past year to develop supportive housing, which combines permanent housing with on-site support services to get chronically homeless people off the streets. Earlier this year, the state Legislature approved funding for 500 units across the state, some of which are already being planned for New London County.

George Durr, a formerly homeless resident of Norwich, shared his experiences with the crowd and talked about how supportive housing changed his life.

In 2000, Durr found out he had skin cancer and said the devastation led him down a dark road. He ended up homeless and spent time living in a garage, in a tent and eventually under a bridge.

"When you're homeless, the day begins with survival," he said, describing his daily trek from Norwichtown to the soup kitchen in downtown Norwich. "As I walked ... I was always looking for a piece of change on the ground ... or a piece of canvas we could use on the tent."

During winter storms, Durr said he and other homeless men would buy a bus pass and spend the day transferring between buses to stay out of the elements.

Finally last spring, Gomes and others from Norwich Human Services were able to help Durr and three other men move into an apartment. Durr said Gomes was "his angel."

"They set us up so we had the real world again," he said, describing simple pleasures, such as taking a shower and reading a newspaper, that people who have never been homeless take for granted.

Statistics from the Department of Social Services for fiscal year 2004 showed 924 homeless people were served in New London County.

Carrie Dyer, a program administrator at Reliance House in Norwich said the organization recently applied for funding to create seven more supportive housing units in the city, and they're hoping to get additional grant money for 14 units next year.

The supportive housing units would be scattered throughout the city. Reliance House staff would partner with willing landlords to rent space and have case workers visit the tenants, Dyer said.

The Rev. Emmett Jarrett, who runs the St. Francis House in New London, said this winter is going to very difficult for homeless people and those on the brink of becoming homeless.

"There's already more people on the street than there was at this time last year," he said.

ReachDorothySchneiderat425-4231ordschneider@norwichbulletin.com