Waterbury Community Partners Work to Open CHD Hospitality Center 24/7 This Winter

A significant collaboration is underway in Waterbury, CT to increase shelter resources so that no one needs to face the severe health risks of sleeping outside this winter. The United Way of Greater Waterbury, the City of Waterbury, and The Housing Collective have all committed a total of $60,000 to help keep CHD’s Hospitality Center open as a warming center 24/7 through March.

The Hospitality Center, a service center for the unhoused at 690 East Main Street in Waterbury, was previously only available to visitors during daytime hours unless the governor of Connecticut activated the state’s cold weather protocol.

(L-R) Hospitality Center client Rudonna Legree; Amanda DiFederico, senior program director of outreach and case management services for CHD’s Adult Mental Health-Connecticut; Kristen Jacoby, president and CPO of the United Way of Greater Waterbury; Hospitality Center Program Manager Kristin Hancock; and Jered Bruzas, chief impact officer of the United Way of Greater Waterbury.

“It is just as life-threatening to sleep outside when the temperature is 25 degrees as when it is zero or below,” said Jered Bruzas, chief impact officer of the United Way of Greater Waterbury. “Unfortunately, funding is stretched as we face an unpredicted rise in the number of people experiencing homelessness.”

While more than 300 men, women, and children found warmth, food, and a bed in shelters run by St. Vincent de Paul and Salvation Army in Waterbury in the past month, others slept in tents, cars, and doorways.

“We’re hearing the same thing again and again: people never thought they’d be in this position,” said Amanda DiFederico, senior program director of outreach and case management services for CHD’s Adult Mental Health-Connecticut. “But illness or job loss has led them from one crisis to another. If they are lucky, they still have a car and a little money to buy gas and run a heater. We welcome the United Way’s leadership bringing stakeholders together to provide the funding necessary to provide 24/7 respite to those who are unhoused in the city.”

Waterbury Mayor Paul Pernerewski said that the city is dedicated to supporting everyone in the community, especially those most vulnerable this winter. “We are committed to partnering with the United Way and The Housing Collective to provide the funding necessary to keep CHD open for shelter 24/7 through the winter,” he said. “Whether our neighbors are experiencing homelessness or facing difficult times, we are dedicated to doing what is right. Our collective efforts will ensure that no one faces the harsh winter conditions alone.”

Jessica Kubicki, chief initiative officer at The Housing Collective, said that it is “inexcusable that hundreds of our neighbors are forced to sleep outside in the biting cold in one of the wealthiest states in the country. We commend our local partners at City of Waterbury and the United Way of Greater Waterbury for showing great leadership and stepping up to bring more life-saving cold weather services to the region.”

Kristen Jacoby, president and CPO of the United Way of Greater Waterbury, said, “As we address the immediate need for food, housing, and healthcare through our Basic Needs work, we are working to change lives for the long-term, ensuring the sustainability of those basic needs as we introduce solutions in our Education and Financial Stability impact areas. When you learn what is happening and what we can do to improve lives, you realize that you have so much in common with people who need our help. Together, we can change stories from tragedy to triumph.”

—This report includes material from Fox61 News and the United Way of Greater Waterbury.