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New Reach expands services as homelessness and hunger surge in Greater New Haven
Summary
New Reach's executive director says the nonprofit is absorbing programs from other organizations and expanding shelter, housing and food-delivery work as homelessness in Greater New Haven has risen sharply; the group lists volunteer and fundraising needs and gives contact information for donors and volunteers.
Kellyanne, executive director of New Reach, said the nonprofit has taken on programs from other groups and is expanding prevention, emergency shelter and housing efforts as homelessness and food insecurity rise in Greater New Haven.
"One in six children are going hungry in Connecticut," Kellyanne said, citing Connecticut Food Share figures, and she added that in "greater New Haven since December of 2023, we've seen an 85% increase in people who are experiencing homelessness." She said New Reach's mission is to "inspire independence" and provide supports so people experiencing housing insecurity or hunger can move into more stable situations.
New Reach traces its roots to 1990, when it incorporated as New Haven Home Recovery as an emergency shelter for women and children. Over time the organization has merged other local programs into its portfolio to preserve services, Kellyanne said: Martha's Place joined in 1999, LifeHaven merged in 2012, Fish (a long-running food-delivery program for homebound residents) joined in 2023, and New Reach is "working very closely with Youth Continuum and Clifford Beers and the state" to continue services after Youth Continuum closed operations.
Kellyanne described a three-part strategy New Reach uses: upstream prevention to keep people from falling into crisis; crisis-response shelters such as Martha's Place and LifeHaven for people who need immediate safety; and building affordable and supportive housing to reduce future crises. "We track these numbers," she said, explaining that intake begins through the 211 system and is recorded in a secure statewide by-name list that helps providers coordinate daily.
She gave specific program figures: Fish delivers groceries to "just shy of 500 households," providing "two or three bags of groceries every month" via volunteer packers and drivers; and New Reach's emergency-shelter waiting list was "As of last week, it was 16" families. Kellyanne said rents in Greater New Haven have risen sharply, arguing that "your rent has gone up 70% in the past 10 years in greater New Haven," which, she said, has pushed seniors and other residents toward housing instability.
The host and Kellyanne also discussed how viewers can help: donating items for families in shelter, signing up as "shelter champions" to receive monthly priority requests, volunteering to pack and deliver Fish groceries, and participating in fundraising events. The program listed two upcoming giving opportunities: the Great Give online event (May 6–7) and New Reach's annual gala on June 3 at Woodwinds. Kellyanne provided the organization's website as newreach.org and invited people to contact staff directly for more information.
During a photo segment, the show highlighted volunteers and board members who support New Reach's work and described recurring holiday efforts such as a turkey drive that delivered turkeys and fixings to more than 800 households and a Christmas gift initiative for families in housing and shelter programs.
Kellyanne emphasized that New Reach uses data to measure impact — tracking moves out of shelter and units in the development pipeline — and urged civic engagement with legislators to prioritize affordable housing in Connecticut's 169 towns. "If you don't talk and engage, how then do you complain?" the host said.
The program closed with the host recommending New Reach to viewers seeking a local charity to support and restating the organization's website and contact options.
