Gavin's Update - November 2023

There has been a rapid increase in the number of people living outside in Waterbury. Before Thanksgiving, Josh and I received a call from a client of ours saying that a part of the woods they were staying at was being cut down and that the trees were falling really close to them. We rushed over to find countless trees already knocked down with many being near our clients. In total, we had 10 clients residing in that slab of woods. After trying to plead with the company cutting the trees down to stop, it became apparent that we needed to relocate our clients ASAP. Luckily, in the next day and a half we were able to relocate all 10 of those individuals. Rents in Waterbury are becoming tougher and tougher for our clients to get. There is a big lack of affordable housing and landlords willing to give people with evictions or past convictions a chance. There are more people resorting to living outside due to mental health, substance use, and or just fear of the shelter environment. With this increase there are less and less spaces

where these individuals can live until they are matched to housing.