Onward860: United to End Poverty
Responding to Housing and Homelessness 

Throughout Connecticut, issues involving housing and homelessness persist, due, in large part, to income disparities. 

Challenges Close to Home 

Income and wealth inequality and a scarcity of affordable homes have created many housing concerns in Connecticut—especially in the 860 region. 

Throughout central and northeastern Connecticut, homeownership rates and values vary by race, ethnicity, and income—and large gaps in rates by race and income may be continuing to increase. The DataHaven 2023 Greater Hartford Community Wellbeing Index reports that differences in the debt levels and credit profiles of mortgage applicants across demographic lines contribute to additional racial and income disparities in home values and ownership. 

In the 2018 article, “Poverty in America: New Directions and Debates,” published in the Annual Review of Sociology, author Matthew Desmond shares that with limited housing options for lower-income and minority residents, these individuals have access to fewer resources, including better education, safer neighborhoods, and better-paying jobs. 

“In response to the increase in homelessness within our area, the United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut decided to activate some direct financial assistance to individuals to help stabilize them,” shares Russell Hansen, Director, Impact and Engagement Operations at United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut. 

Our United Way is working to address housing by funding shelters through several initiatives: 

THE Commercial Real Estate and Building Industry Breakfast: Building Foundations
In 2021, a diverse group of commercial real estate and building industry professionals created the Building Foundations Breakfast. The goal was to bring the industry together to prevent and address homelessness in partnership with United Way. Since its launch, the event has raised nearly $2 million to close housing gaps in Greater Hartford. 

Emergency Food and Shelter Program (EFSP)
Acting as the local administrator of the EFSP, which is funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), our United Way works with a local EFSP board to help distribute those dollars, which primarily go to shelter and diversion programs. 

Rapid Response Fund
In response to the spike in people in our region experiencing homelessness, United Way activated its Rapid Response Fund: Housing and Homelessness. Our objective was to keep people in stable housing and to help those who are currently unhoused find shelter. 

The first iteration launched in November 2023 and closed in March 2024. During that time, more than 150 households received financial assistance; approximately $60,000 was distributed directly to people at risk of becoming homeless; and, an additional $50,000 supported the Coordinated Access Network (CAN), which are established networks of nonprofits that support housing instability and individuals needing emergency shelter. 

United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut leveraged its existing relationship with the CAN to access the relationships they created with collective clients in their network to quickly help people.  

“Working with the CAN was beneficial because we knew they knew what they were doing. They already had a network and were already working with people who needed these funds,” says Russell. “We asked them to steward our Rapid Response funds and work with these people using the best practices they’d already developed.” 

United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut extended its reach beyond the CAN. 

“We wanted to access partners across sectors that may not be designed to address housing, but may be aware of individuals with these challenges. For example, a child care agency that knows a parent is facing housing instability,” explains Russell. “The idea was to lower those barriers of entry as much as possible so they can make those referrals.”  

The only stipulations were for individuals were they must be residing in our area, experiencing some sort of financial crisis and living below the ALICE (Asset Limited, Income Constrained, Employed) Threshold in Connecticut. 

Unlike typical government funding, which often doesn’t provide aid directly to an individual, the Rapid Response funds were given directly to individuals. 

“We wanted to empower and trust people to use the additional funding how they needed it,” says Russell.  

He adds, “We understand that the stress that being in an ALICE household and experiencing financial instability can bring to all of your costs. So, it didn’t matter which specific costs we were alleviating, because if we alleviated one, it enabled that family to address all of their costs. One way or another, that burden was lifted.” 

Requiring individuals to access the Rapid Response fund through referrals from other agencies—whether they were town departments or nonprofit agencies—helped ensure that those individuals had access to wraparound services, which United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut knew those agencies could provide. 

Meet Cassandra. Cassandra’s family lost everything after experiencing two house fires in a seven-month span, and United Way’s Rapid Response funds helped her family stay in stable housing as they recovered.

Hear her story in her own words.   

 In the Fall of 2024, United Way’s Rapid Response Fund: Housing and Homelessness was reactivated when our community faced a 13-percent increase in homelessness for the second year in a row.  

Our Homeless Community 

Although Connecticut saw a decline in homelessness from 2015 and 2021, unfortunately, that positive streak ended in 2022, with homelessness rates increasing by 13%, according to the Advancing CT Together, 2022 HIC Point-in-Time report. 

Addressing homelessness requires a collective effort. If we want to make a significant impact in our community, it will take support from more than one organization. 

How will closing gaps in housing help end poverty? 

“Housing is really the first step to ensure people can address all of their other needs. Before you can talk about addressing job training or educational needs, individuals must feel they have a safe place to rest their heads every night,” emphasizes Russell. 

“If we can help people who are in unstable situations now get into stable situations, if we can help people who are in stable situations avoid instability, then we can start addressing all of those other educational, health and job needs,” he underscores. “If we can keep people housed, then we can have the space we need to address all of those other factors of poverty.” 

The Solution: Onward860 

United Way of Northeastern and Central Connecticut is co-creating a better future for our region—but we can’t do it without your support. Our approach includes: 

• Aligning community, corporate, government and philanthropic partners to end poverty 

• Leveraging 100 years of experience, expertise, data, community voice and resources, to deepen impact 

• Connecting people with resources and opportunities to make a difference 

• Transforming the future with game-changing solutions and partnerships 

Appreciating and Supporting Our Vision 

We’re making a positive impact in our communities. Join us! You can get involved through simple actions: Give Back, Get Involved, Take Action. 

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Learn More about our Onward860 Vision