The Housing Collective

09/01/2026

Lawmakers represent the people, so it’s critical that they see what happens inside our homeless shelters, understand how they work, and recognize where they fit within the larger network of health, workforce, and social services that we call “the homelessness response system.”

When you invest in the homelessness response system, we deliver results. This thanks to organizations like Alpha Community Services YMCA and Recovery Network of Programs, Inc., who manage the shelters Bridgeport that we visited alongside lawmakers this week.

As the backbone organization supporting the homelessness response system in Fairfield County, The Housing Collective’s Opening Doors Fairfield County is here to bring together shelters, service providers, people, and policy makers to solve homelessness together.

Thanks to State Representative Andre Baker, State Representative Jennifer Leeper, State Representative Cristin McCarthy Vahey State Senator Sujata Gadkar-Wilcox and City of Bridgeport, CT - Government Social Services Department for joining us this week. You can ensure our communities remain safe and strong by growing investments in the homeless response system.

08/31/2026

The Housing Collective’s President and CEO David Rich has been a driving force advancing housing efforts across the state for decades. As David prepares to step down after 20 years of leadership, you are invited to share a congratulatory message for him!

Messages will be displayed in the program booklet for our 20th Anniversary Luncheon on October 1, 2026 at The Knowlton in Bridgeport. Over the years his efforts have touched so many of you: peers and partners and people in need across CT. Let him know!

Submission deadline: September 2, 5:00pm

08/26/2026

Today, our President & CEO joined colleagues and partner agencies at a Legislative Lunch and Learn hosted by Opening Doors Fairfield County, the Housing Collective, and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.

The event brought together local elected officials to discuss the shortage of affordable housing and the Coordinated Access process.

Thank you to the Housing Collective, CCEH, and Opening Doors Fairfield County for organizing, and to everyone who joined the conversation, including Don O’Day representing the Selectpersons of Westport, Representative Anne Hughes, State Senate candidate Sam Nestor, and Lee Goldstein, Weston First Selectperson and Westport BOE Chair.

Together, through education, collaboration, and advocacy, we can continue working toward housing solutions for our community. ❤💙

The Housing Collective CCEH Anne Hughes CT Sam Nestor for State Senate Lee Goldstein

08/26/2026

Case managers and housing navigators serve as the "frontline" in homeless response work. These frontline staff members meet with people who need a place to stay and help them take their next steps toward stability.

Often, the first step for someone in crisis is a shelter. When case managers and housing navigators know what the nearby shelter looks like and how it operates, they can be more confident and knowledgable when they refer people to stay there.

That's why we're hosting shelters tours this month throughout Fairfield County, bringing in frontline staff in to learn how the shelters in their communities operate.

As the backbone organization supporting the entire housing and homelessness safety net in Fairfield County, this is how we ensure the right hand knows what the left hand is doing, so everyone gets the care they deserve.

Today, we visited Homes with Hope and were joined by staff from Open Doors Inspirica, Inc. Catholic Charities of Fairfield County Operation Hope of Fairfield Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services.

08/26/2026

Homeownership in Litchfield County isn’t a reality for many middle- and low-income families in western Connecticut. But efforts are under way to make new homes more affordable.

“A long time ago, our local housing nonprofits were able to build these types of homes and then raise just a little bit of money locally and sell them affordably,” our Litchfield County Centers for Housing Opportunity Director Jocelyn Ayer told Connecticut Public. That’s no longer the case.

That’s why we launched the Litchfield County Affordable Homeownership Program with the Connecticut Department of Housing, Capital for Change, and local partners like the Washington Community Housing Trust .

Ten homes are being built in western Connecticut as part of an affordable housing effort spearheaded by the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity.

08/20/2026

You can support The Housing Collective's Housing for All network and Centers for Housing Opportunity Eastern CT through Charter Oak Federal Credit Union's Matching Gift Program.

As Charter Oak is committed to giving back to charitable entities within their field of membership, as well as charities elsewhere that are meaningful to their members, we hope their program will inspire you to make a donation to The Housing Collective, so that we are able to further our meaningful mission to positively impact the world we live in.

To view the Matching Gift guidelines and to learn more about how to make a donation please visit their website.

08/17/2026

Thanks to State Senator Julie Kushner State Representative Farley Santos and the City of Danbury Department of Health & Human Services for joining us today to tour a local shelter and talk about how the homeless system works.

When you invest in the homeless response system, we deliver results, and it's important we take a moment to show people where those investments go. Still, homelessness is increasing and our work goes on. Lawmakers can ensure our communities remain safe and strong by growing investments in the homeless response system.

Thanks as well to the dedicated service providers on the ground in Danbury like ARC- Association of Religious Communities who hosted us, and Catholic Charities of Fairfield County.

08/12/2026

During Governor Dannel Malloy's administration, Connecticut set a bold statewide expectation: homelessness should not be managed indefinitely. It should be solved. The results were significant, and hold lessons for today.

The Housing Collective served as the backbone for Fairfield County's homeless response system, and built infrastructure capable of translating the statewide goals into results at the local level.

From 2016 to 2018, the number of chronically homeless people in Fairfield County went from more than 200, to 16. Read the case study to learn more about this effort, and our 20th Anniversary celebration.

08/06/2026

Do you have a great IDEA to help build housing in Connecticut more quickly, more cost-efficiently, or by involving more community members? You can present it at our Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit: IDEAS Edition!

During our fifth annual summit, we’re adding more opportunities for attendees to share your ideas about creating affordable housing. Check out out call for IDEAS! on our website and share yours before August 21. Three people will present during the Summit!

📆 Deadline: August 21
Hosted by the Litchfield County Centers for Housing Opportunity

08/05/2026

The Housing Collective is thrilled to announce the appointment of Heidi Green as our Chief Development and Communications Officer this week. Green will focus on expanding the organization's resources, strengthening public engagement, and supporting our network of partners in order to advance housing solutions across Connecticut.

Green is a dedicated champion of collective impact who has more than 15 years of experience in executive leadership advancing institutions and advocating for systemic change. At The Housing Collective, Green will enhance our communications and storytelling to increase support for affordable housing solutions, and build long-term financial capacity.

Please join us in welcoming Heidi Green!

Learn more: https://thehousingcollective.org/news/heidi-green-chief-development-communications-officer