New London officials, outreach groups describe progress and limits in addressing homelessness

New London — City and nonprofit leaders told a Public Welfare Committee meeting on Sept. 2 that coordinated outreach, harm-reduction services and targeted housing programs are producing individual successes even as the city faces growing visible homelessness and constrained housing resources.

"Tonight, we want to shine a light on the progress and inspiring efforts being made to address homelessness," Director of Human Services Jeanne Milstein said at the start of the presentation, and she outlined gaps in shelter, mental‑health and substance‑use services that remain.

The committee heard from the Alliance for Living, the Ledge Light Health District, the New London Homeless Hospitality Center and outreach navigators who described a mix of short‑ and long‑term efforts: mobile outreach, hotel placements and transitional and permanent supportive housing. Kelly Thompson, chief executive of Alliance for Living, said the organization expanded services in 2024, opening one of Connecticut’s harm‑reduction centers and launching a drug‑checking program in partnership with the Connecticut Department of Public Health. "Everything we do is rooted in harm reduction," Thompson said.

Outreach navigators and peer workers gave first‑person accounts of intensive engagement work. Trish Rios, a navigator who described herself as a person with lived experience, said trust‑building can lead to breakthroughs: "We build trust through consistent, compassionate outreach," she said, and she recounted cases in which people sleeping outdoors later gained housing and access to mental‑health services.

David Horst, manager of outreach and engagement at the Homeless Hospitality Center, told the committee that the center currently has 30 adults enrolled in a HUD‑funded program called Ready, Set, Home and that the agency operates modular in‑reach, diversion and housing services. "I need not tell you that the numbers are growing and the visible homelessness is growing as well," Horst said.

Committee members and city officials stressed regional aspects: several presenters said New London’s services reach surrounding towns, and speakers repeatedly recommended stronger state and regional funding. Ledge Light Health District staff and the Homeless Hospitality Center credited a network of partners — shelters, public health, police and volunteers — for preventing evictions and stabilizing some households. Kathy Saul of the Homeless Hospitality Center said the shelter sees about 100 people a month newly experiencing homelessness and roughly 400 people a year who spend at least one night in shelter; she said the average shelter stay is about 45 days.

The meeting also emphasized prevention work for seniors and families and cooperation with landlords, hospitals and the police to reduce trauma when encampments are cleared. Jen Muggio, New London’s director of health, framed homelessness as a public‑health issue and cited higher chronic‑disease rates and elevated mortality among people who are unhoused.

No city ordinance or appropriation was adopted at the committee meeting. The committee concluded by scheduling a follow‑up session to present more detailed recommendations and a list of specific funding requests to the full council.

The session combined personal case examples and program updates with administrative context: presenters described both the services currently available and the policy and funding gaps that limit broader scale‑up.