Renewal House

We are proud to honor Georgia Carrington at our breakfast fundraiser tomorrow. Georgia has been a Renewal House supporter, in every sense of the word, since she joined the Board of Directors in 2014. She invests countless hours sharing Renewal House’s mission with the community. The time she dedicates to our clients is unmatched. Georgia takes the time to get to know the people Renewal House serves – focusing not on the challenges that have brought them to Renewal House but who they are. She sees humanity. Click the link below to learn more about Georgia: https://lnkd.in/eQFNs4-3 #CommunitySupport #Philanthropy #HumanityFirst #homelessness

When you are homeless and struggling to stay safe, sheltered, and fed, tending to your healthcare is a luxury that is often out of reach. When taking care of basic health needs is a challenge, being aware of and addressing signs of dementia and risk factors such as vision and hearing loss is just not realistic. Yet it is important. Adults who experience sensory loss tend to withdraw and not engage as much socially. Vision loss over the age of 65 increases the chance of developing dementia by 50%. Hearing loss increases the risk of dementia by 37%. Over the past few years, Renewal House has seen far more applicants and residents who are exhibiting signs of or have been diagnosed with some form of dementia. Being homeless later in life is traumatic enough. Managing homelessness and dementia is even more concerning. The prevalence of dementia is increasing. Homelessness in CT is also increasing – for the third year in a row. “Homelessness in CT has increased 13% from January 2023 to January 2024. … About a third of all people experiencing homelessness reported at least one disabling condition” - CT Mirror. The Renewal House program model is being challenged to evolve as we recognize these emerging issues and find ways to screen for and address newly identified risk factors. Your support helps us to continue to meet the needs of some of the most vulnerable members of our community – people who are determined to do the work to restore their lives. #HomelessnessAwareness #SupportRenewalHouse #DementiaCare #CommunitySupport #CTHomelessnessCrisis

We are deeply grateful to the HomeFront Program and Team Up for their incredible efforts in renovating our Renewal House home here in Danbury, CT, where we provide a safe haven for formerly homeless older adults. It is not just a renovation but a beacon of hope and a testament to the power of community collaboration and compassion. To everyone involved in this project, thank you for your compassion, hard work, and dedication. Your contributions are not just about renovating a house—they are about restoring hope and dignity to those who need it most. Thank you to Coach Rob Noone for organizing the Danbury High School football team to assist with the project. The volunteers were instrumental in painting, cleaning, refurbishing, and landscaping our home, which serves one of our community's most vulnerable populations. Your dedication has truly transformed the house. We were also honored to have Mayor Roberto Alves, State Representative Farley Santos, and Parks and Recreation Director Shaun Ratchford join us. Their commitment to our community is deeply appreciated. The support and care you all have shown for our community serve as a powerful reminder of what we can achieve when we work together. #CommunitySupport #RenewalHouse #Gratitude #Teamwork #HopeRestored

Being the Program Director of Renewal House in Danbury is an impactful experience. Hope for the hopeless. Vision for those without vision. I always tell the residents of Renewal House, “There is safety in a multitude of good counsel.” Often, this good counsel comes from community-based services. In short, I am fulfilling my calling by helping those who have been beaten down by life’s circumstances. That they are not alone, that there is hope and vision for their future. It’s an honor to do this work, hard as it often is. We serve a diverse group of people: engineers, mothers, fathers, grandparents, individuals with early onset dementia, former business owners, and former homeowners. We encounter tragedies, losses, natural disasters, recovering addicts, and domestic violence victims. These are the people we serve. There is no fanfare in being the Program Director. No accolades or compensation can match the effort required to make a difference between merely surviving and truly thriving. The work involves advocating for housing, benefits, therapy, medical services, fostering community, and bringing laughter. Any experienced person can do that. But it’s a gift and an honor to impart hope, healing, vision, peace, and peace of mind; that’s what I get to do! Helping people so they can restore their lives and independence and believe in themselves again. May their latter years be greater than their former. ‘One life at a time.’ Maria Russo, Renewal House Program Director #CommunityCare #HopeAndHealing #RenewalHouse #ServingOthers #MakingADifference

Volunteers are treasures, and they are becoming increasingly rare. Busy schedules, a sense of being overwhelmed with daily life, other priorities – so many realities of modern life compete for time. Volunteering often no longer seems possible. But Kay Schonberg and Patty Kravit made time. Along with Kit Anderson, David Montieth, Gerry O’Hara, Lori Peterson, and John Robson – all from the First Congregational Church of Ridgefield – these volunteers gave generously of their time and talent to turn chaos to beauty. The gardens at Renewal House have been transformed. The days were hot. The work was hard. But they persevered, and they welcomed Renewal House residents who were able to work with them. We say to each of these good people – you are, indeed, treasures. And we are grateful you chose to share your gifts with us. #VolunteerHeroes #TreasureVolunteers #GivingBack #CommunitySpirit #MakingADifference #GardenTransformation #VolunteerAppreciation #SelflessActs #CommunityService #Gratitude

Shared experiences build community – a feeling of belonging that is so much at risk in today’s fractured world. We thank our friends at the First Congregational Church in Danbury for doing their part to bring people together. We thank them for including Renewal House residents in a community dinner provided by The Atlantic Restaurant – a Danbury legend – and the showing of the incredible movie, Harriet. Not only did our residents enjoy the social engagement, they also enhanced their knowledge about Harriet Tubman and her remarkable life and enthusiastically participated in the discussion of the film that followed. They felt a part of the community and were reminded that their thoughts and voices matter. We know that and now we hope they do as well. An important step back into a restored life. Thank you, First Congregational Church for being such a caring, inclusive community! #CommunityBuilding #SharedExperiences #Belonging #InclusiveCommunity #FirstCongregationalChurch #Danbury #RenewalHouse #CommunityDinner #HarrietTubman #FilmDiscussion #SocialEngagement #RestoredLife #SupportiveCommunity #CaringCommunity #Togetherness #CommunitySupport

Homelessness creates isolation. Renewal House encourages community. Anyone who has seen the forsythia bushes and the gardens at Renewal House knows they have been growing with wild abandon. Three Renewal House residents decided to do something about that. They used their talents – and some landscaping tools – to cut those bushes down to size. And they joined some inspiring volunteers to restore the gardens. More on the garden project in future posts. Talented people. Good people. People we are honored to serve. Humans whose lives we value. Thank you to our supporters who foster healing and give residents a path to restore their lives. #Homelessness #CommunitySupport #RenewalHouse #GardeningProject #VolunteerWork #CommunityHealing #Restoration #SupportiveHousing #HumanKindness #Landscaping #CommunityGrowth #GivingBack #InspiringChange #Resilience #HealingJourneys

Several weeks ago, Renewal House welcomed another new resident. After taking time to decompress, every new resident begins to engage in the case management process. Through that process, each resident works with the Renewal House Program Director to develop skills and connect with community resources that will lead to housing and stability. Sustaining safe, stable, healthy living requires: 📋 Income 📋 Connection to healthcare providers 📋 Food security 📋 Access to transportation 📋 Socialization/community connections When thinking about addressing homelessness, we often forget about the importance of having access to transportation. Without a car, getting to jobs and medical appointments can be very difficult. Danbury is challenged with having transportation options that are affordable but inflexible and not easy for many older adults to navigate. Options such as Uber or Lyft are plentiful but often too expensive for those we serve. To help residents make the best use possible of the options available, Renewal House often calls on the Kennedy Collective. Funded by the State Department of Transportation, the Collective’s Travel Training program offers one-on-one training to help seniors and people with disabilities learn to safely use public transportation and become more independent. The program has won national recognition and we know why! They have helped Renewal House residents have the knowledge and confidence they need to make their way to jobs and medical resources. They are making a difference! #RenewalHouse #CommunitySupport #HomelessnessAwareness #TransportationAccess #IndependentLiving

Community connections and physical activity are so important for good mental and physical health. Danbury’s Rogers Park is a great place to enjoy the outdoors and stay healthy. A monthly trip to the park is on the Renewal House Graduate Outreach Calendar. Paved walking surfaces, plenty of benches, a chance to interact with friendly people – what a treat. A stop for ice cream after the walk certainly added to the pleasure of the day. We were so pleased to have Margarita, one of our most determined graduates, join us that day. Margarita embraces life. She has some mobility challenges, but she doesn’t let anything stop her from making the most of every day. With the help of a walker and a few friends, she persists – a true inspiration to all! #CommunityConnections #StayActive #HealthyLiving #Inspiration #OutdoorAdventures

At Renewal House, every supporter is precious. Donations small and large, donations of time and treasure ensure that our doors are open to those who are determined to restore their lives and return to a place they can call “home”. We welcome and are grateful for all. When individuals or organizations support this work regularly, over many years, we have a solid and sustaining base of support that stabilizes the services we can provide. We are especially grateful to sustaining supporters. Among those most loyal are the members of the Newtown Lions Club. Recently, we were honored by a visit from two Newtown Lions who brought a very generous donation to Renewal House. They have supported Renewal House for more than 20 years! We are grateful for all they do for us and so many other community organizations. So, if you see someone from the Newtown Lions Club, tell them how much you appreciate their good work! We certainly do! #SupportLocal #CommunityHeroes #Gratitude #ThankYou #RenewalHouse