NORWICH -- They huddle under bridges, erect
tents in the woods and sleep in abandoned
homes to protect themselves from the
elements.
The number of area homeless is growing
and local social service agencies are
concerned it's getting out of control.
Preliminary local results of a statewide
survey of homeless revealed 353 homeless
people, including 80 children, in New London
County alone. The numbers are up from the
319 counted last year.
"We know it's worse than numbers
indicate," said Beverly Goulet, director of
Norwich human services.
Many homeless likely were not counted
because the "point in time" survey was
conducted as a sampling of just one day:
Jan. 26. The number of homeless who come in
contact with surveyors fluctuates, she said.
Other members of the Partnership to End
Homelessness of Southeastern Connecticut,
who conducted the study, all agree many
people are staying temporarily with friends
or family.
The problem of homelessness is growing as
the region experiences a decline in
affordable housing and a jump in rent
prices.
Many of the homeless have mental or
substance abuse problems, or simply are
low-income wage earners and can't get proper
services because they don't have a stable
place to live, said the Rev. Russ Carmichael
of the New London Grassroots Homeless
Coalition Ministries.
"Twenty years ago we didn't have this
problem," Goulet said. "We would have had
places available to house people and get
them the needed services."
The problem is compounded by people who
come to the area for services, such as at
the Stonington Institute in North
Stonington, and end up staying locally
without a place to live.
While the "no-freeze," shelters, which
open in the winter, used to be a last
resort, Goulet said "it's become a way of
life over the past few years. That's a giant
red light that says to me we've got to get a
handle on this problem," Goulet said.
Spring Raymond of Bethsaida Community
Inc., which runs a shelter and offers
services for women in Norwich, said the
committee still has a lot of work to be
done. It must analyze data to learn more
about why people are homeless.
The survey is conducted as a requirement
of a Department of Housing and Urban
Development grant.
The funding would be used to develop
permanent supportive housing and temporary
shelters.