Open Doors

"The rise in homelessness in Connecticut and across the nation is attributed to several causes, but a primary driver is housing insecurity and affordability. The state needs more than 90,000 affordable units. In addition, a recent study ranked Connecticut as the worst state for renters, due to high costs and low availability of units. As a result, Michele Conderino said more people are staying longer in shelters. She said the average stay for clients at Open Doors was 149 days and it housed 38 people from March to September 2024. In comparison, they housed 45 households and had an average length of stay of 110 days at the same time last year. " https://lnkd.in/edA-42tq

"Wages aren’t meeting the cost of housing, said Michele Conderino, executive director of Open Doors, which operates a homeless shelter in Norwalk. Minimum-wage workers in Connecticut started making $15 an hour in June 2023, and now make just under $16 per hour — but advocates agree more is needed." https://lnkd.in/eFGNEcnF

"For the past few summers, Open Doors' CEO Michele Conderino said street outreach has included strategies to mitigate the effects of heat waves, like offering people ice old water and freeze pops, as well as reminding them that they could go to a cooling center to get out of the heat" https://lnkd.in/eX2sj_jE

The Economic Opportunity Hub (EOH) has made a meaningful impact in our community, with a significant increase in the number of people we have been able to assist over the past year. This growth signifies our success in preventing homelessness through this program; whether it's helping individuals secure employment, learn about financial freedom, or obtain a GED diploma, we are here to make a difference. #homelessprevention #financefreedom #employment

https://lnkd.in/e5-qqP9P

The Economic Opportunity Hub (EOH), formerly known as Financial Opportunity Center (FOC) is our Program Highlight for the month of September. Join us every Friday this month to discover more about this incredible initiative, which prioritizes homelessness prevention, an area of great importance for Open Doors. #EconomicOpportunityHub #EOH #HomelessnessPrevention #employmentservices #financialeducation #incomesupports #CommunitySupport #norwalkct #fairfieldcounty #connecticut

"With an increasing cost of living, it is clear that families cannot afford to maintain housing" https://lnkd.in/dy2aUFh7

"Amid a sharp rise in homelessness over recent years, spurred by rising rents and a dearth of available units, advocates and service providers have observed a disturbing trend: particularly notable increases among older residents, some of whom are showing up at shelters for the first times in their lives." Read more at: https://lnkd.in/eeb4pw9c

Open Doors is proud to announce the launch of its new Economic Opportunity Hub (EOH), a non-profit program designed to empower individuals in the greater Norwalk area to achieve greater financial stability and upward economic mobility. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/e4iEXbXF #EconomicOpportunityHub #EOH #FinancialStability #EconomicMobility #Empowerment #NonProfit #CommunityDevelopment #norwalkct #fairfieldcounty #connecticut

"Providers and experts say that people are staying in shelters for longer periods of time, there are scant shelter beds, and a lack of affordable housing makes it hard for people to exist" https://lnkd.in/esSb-Q8H