Unexpected cold spurs one shelter to action

During the frigid winter months, the city-funded Columbus House Overflow Center provides 75 extra beds for New Haven's homeless. The center is for men only, and operates on an "emergency" principle—it is a last resort for people who have been turned away from other shelters due to lack of room. The center has been in operation since the early 90s is now undergoing significant changes in policy under DeStefano's administration. Elma Ayala, a member of New Haven's Human Services Department, talked to the Herald about the Center, its problems and its future.

Yale Herald: What is the purpose of the Overflow Center?

Elma Ayala: To make sure that we have something in place for those folks who come in from the cold during these months. This facility is for emergency purposes only. We don't want people coming in night after night; that's why we have the Columbus House and [other shelters]."

JULIA TIERNAN/YH The Columbus House picks up the slack during the winter when other shelters become full.

YH: When does the shelter open? Who can use it?

EA: It officially opens on Dec. 1 and closes in the middle of March, but we have the mechanism to open 30 days earlier and close 30 days later if need be. It really depends on the inclement weather. This year, we opened in mid-November. It was a bit of a shock because we were lulled into complacency with the warm New England fall, so when the cold weather snuck up on us, we had to act fast. But we're managing now without a problem.

The overflow shelter takes in men when the regular beds at the Columbus House and other shelters are filled. We open when weather is determined to be a health hazard for people sleeping outside. A portion of our clients spend most of the year in places other than shelters—the shelters aren't a very pleasant place, you know. They stay with family or friends; some people stay under bridges. They refuse our help because of various reasons; some have mental health problems, some have substance abuse problems. But when they have to come in because of the cold, we make space for them.

YH: What has the city done recently to help the Overflow program and the homeless people of New Haven?

EA: There has been a major policy shift in the past three years. The present administration has been incredible about providing contacts and services for people that need them. We do not want people living in these emergency shelters for extended periods of time—that's not what they're there for. We connect people to appropriate resources, like substance abuse rehab programs [and] medical care.

The Human Services committee, which has really been fostered by this administration, is submitting an RFP—"request for proposal"—in the next couple of weeks that will advertise for service providers for our clients. These service providers will provide service slots—times—for homeless people. We have heard so often that people want this help and service providers are willing to help, but that there are no slots. So we are setting aside $130,000 for this purpose. We are hoping to have a contract with the providers by spring.

YH: With the extremely cold weather this winter, how frequently has the shelter been used?

EA: It's very surprising actually, but we've found that our numbers this winter have not really risen from past years. In fact, we've been tracking the number of people who come into the overflow shelter on a daily basis and on our busiest day, Tues., Jan. 11, we only had 39 people. The steady number this winter has been in the mid-twenties. Our capacity is 75. I don't really know what to attribute these low numbers to. Maybe the homeless population is decreasing. If you ask five different people about the number of homeless people in New Haven, you'll get five different answers. But whatever the reason, we are thinking about what to do with these extra beds.

YH: Are you considering eliminating those extra beds?

EA: We have not reached maximum capacity in the time that I've been here. What is causing these low numbers? We don't have the answers yet, but we also have to ask ourselves if—this is a big if—the low numbers justify the numbers of additional beds we have. I could see limiting the number of places in the overflow shelter and using the funds for transitional housing, mental health care and counseling. I would not advocate simply removing the beds.

YH: What were some problems you've faced this winter?

EA: The one problem we've been having...is people coming to the overflow shelters before the beds in the regular shelters are filled. We finally figured out that folks who have been thrown out of regular shelters for various reasons—including fighting—are coming to us because they know they won't be let back in the other places. But we've straightened that out—we've improved our transportation methods and our mechanisms for admitting people.

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