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Residents and advocates press New Britain council for more homelessness supports and neighborhood action
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Summary
At the March 25 New Britain Common Council meeting, residents and a homeless‑advisory task force urged the council to prioritize mental‑health‑centered services, neighborhood safety at Willow Street Park and follow up at an April 2 senior‑center meeting.
At the March 25 meeting of the New Britain Common Council, residents and advocates urged the council to treat homelessness as a broader mental‑health and services issue and to prioritize neighborhood safety rather than only counting shelter beds.
Luis Mulave, identifying himself as a representative of a homeless advisory task force called the Hat Soarscribe, told the council: “We are ready to be part of a solution,” and said homelessness is driven by “mental health, trauma” and requires life‑skills support and opportunity to help people toward long‑term success (Speaker: Luis Mulave).
Resident Julie asked council members to attend an April 2 meeting at the senior center to support East Side revitalization and to meet neighbors affected by shelter placement, calling shelter residents “neighbors” and urging more aldermen involvement (Speaker: Julie).
Alberto Duarte, who gave a New Britain address, said he has lived in the neighborhood 58 years and urged a vote on measures to make Willow Street Park safer. Duarte said the city has seen a rise in homelessness—“New Britain went up 13% since last year,” and cited a statewide figure of about 3,500 people—remarks he offered as part of his appeal for expanded outreach, mental‑health services and a community center (Speaker: Alberto Duarte).
Council members responded to the public comments by thanking attendees and pledging follow‑up. Alderman Vargas said she has walked encampments and will attend the April 2 meeting; Aldwin (council member) said housing, jobs and wrap‑around services must work together and announced a mental‑health awareness resolution he was filing that evening. Several members encouraged collaboration between the NRZ neighborhood groups and city staff to plan cleanups and coordinated supports.
Why it matters: Speakers told the council they view the problem as interlocking — housing access, mental health, employment and neighborhood safety — and urged the city to move from individual program responses toward coordinated, community‑led plans. The council said it expects recommendations from the mayor’s task force and committed to follow up.
What’s next: Council members encouraged public participation at the April 2 senior‑center meeting and said they will take up task‑force recommendations and related agenda items in coming meetings. No formal council action specific to the Willow Street park or a new community center was recorded at the March 25 meeting; the issues were raised in public comment and promised for follow up.
Sources: Public comment at the March 25, 2026 New Britain Common Council meeting (Speakers: Luis Mulave; Julie; Alberto Duarte).
