TD Charitable Foundation Donates $15,000 to Overflow Shelter
By Robin Vinci | Editor at January 23, 2024 | 9:00 am | Print
The City now has money to ensure the overflow shelter needs will be taken care of for two years.
On Monday, the TD Charitable Foundation gave the City a grant to help with the Mayor’s Rebuilding Hope Together: Plan to End Homelessness, for $15,000.
“We are grateful for their generosity,” said Mayor Erin Stewart. “It will certainly be put to good use.”
John Cookley, regional vice president of TD Bank, said the grant was given because the Mayor put out a call for help in November for funds for the homeless shelter.
“The bank is always looking for ways to invest and help the community,” said Cookley. “Keeping people warm, is pretty important.”
It costs $40,000 for just the staff operations of the shelter. That amount does not include rental of the space, meals, blankets, cots and other tangible items.
“The federal government cut our funding to zero for our emergency overflow shelter,” said Stewart. “We had to piecemeal money together.”
The state did give the City $40,000 for the operations from the Department of Housing.
“We were able to get enough donations that all systems are go for this year and for next year,” said Stewart. “Hopefully, after that we can convince Gov. (Dannel) Malloy to put a line item in his budget so we don’t have to worry about trying to find donations. Our ultimate goal is not to have as many people in need. But, unfortunately that is not a reality.”
Both the $40,000 from the state the $15,000 from TD Bank has been divided to last two years.
The overflow shelter has been open every night since Dec. 8. There are 40 cots and an average of 30-35 of them are used each night.
In order to get help, those in need should dial 211. A statewide program, Coordinated Access Network (CAN), is set up through that number.
Volunteers help those in need fill out information and assign people to a local shelter. The overflow shelter is just a place to sleep. Many homeless people are assigned to the Friendship Center, the Salvation Army, the Prudence Crandall Center or the Farrell Treatment Center.
“Just dial 211 if you can’t afford to pay next month’s rent and know you will be homeless to set up an appointment,” said Stewart. “Building Hope Together is not just providing shelter, but providing permanent shelter.”
Some people are given help to get into an apartment with rent subsidies. Volunteers will also help manage the subsidies and other services.
“TD bank has consistently been a great corporate citizen of the City as well as with other organizations in town,” said Bill Carroll, New Britain Business Development Director. “They are great to work with.”
