FAQs
How do people become homeless?
From where do most of the homeless people at your Shelter come?
Is your Shelter religiously affiliated?
Do you rely on government funding or individual donations?
What other homeless shelters are there in the area?
I am homeless or know someone who is homeless and need a bed for tonight. May I/he/she stay in your Shelter?
Do you charge your residents rent?
How do I get to your Shelter?
Do the residents have to pack up every night, or can they maintain personal belongings in the Shelter?
What does the case manager do?
Do you operate under a balanced budget and open for auditing regularly?
Do you have paid employment available?
Why do people need to stay in a homeless shelter for an extended time period if they find employment and income?
What are the Hours of Operations?
Why don't neighboring cities and towns provide homeless support (such as Stonington, Mystic, Old Lyme, etc.)
I would like to learn more. To whom can I talk to?
I would like to help by volunteering or by donating. How can I help?
How long has the Covenant Shelter been operating?
How do people become homeless?
Common assumptions are fire, flood, foreclosure, and other loss of home. Although these are sometimes the cause, the leading contributors to homelessness are drug abuse, alcohol abuse, mental illness, physical disabilities and those just getting out of prison returning to the community. We also encounter individuals who have been asked to leave their place of residence by family members or friends.
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From where do most of the homeless people at your Shelter come?
Although it is hard to pin down a resident's origin (place of birth, longest place of residence, last address, or last paid residence, etc.) we have found the majority of our residents come from towns and cities across Southeastern CT. We have seen, however, residents come from states like Massachusetts, New York, Rhode Island and as far away as Texas.
Is your Shelter religiously affiliated?
The Covenant Shelter was founded as a compact between St. Mary's Star of The Sea Roman Catholic and St. James Episopal Churches in 1983. Today, both churches still provide regular support for the Shelter by conducting food drives, birthday parties for the children, quilts for the beds, food donations, monetary donations as well as providing a building to house our guests for the price of $1 per year. However, we welcome residents from all paths and do not require any particular religious affiliation or participation by any of the residents or staff members.
Do you rely on government funding or individual donations?
The State of CT (Department of Social Services) provides a little over 50% of our budget. The United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, Individual Donors, Grants and Fundraisers represent the rest of Covenant Shelter funding.
What other homeless shelters are there in the area?
The New London Homeless Hospitality Center also located in New London, Ct. helps provide emergency overnight shelter to single individuals. Other Shelters in the area include TVCCA SHELTER NORWICH, www. tvcca.org , ACCESS SHELTER DANIELSON, www.accessagency.org , and HOLY FAMILY SHELTER WILLIMANTIC, www.holyfamily.org which help to provide similar housing and shelter assistance as Covenant Shelter.
I am homeless or know someone who is homeless and need a bed for tonight. May I/he/she stay in your Shelter?
We welcome bed inquiries from families and individuals in the Southeastern CT area. Please call us at: 860.443.0537....to see if there is a bed available for you or a loved one. If we cannot assist you, the Homeless Hospitality Center generally has emergency beds available for single individuals, you may contact them at: 860.439.1573...
Do you charge your residents rent?
As a resident's stay and employment progresses, we do request a minor financial commitment back to the Shelter ($4 per night). This commitment can help the resident establish a regular pay schedule and credit history.
How do I get to your Shelter?
For more information, click here...
Do the residents have to pack up every night, or can they maintain personal belongings in the Shelter?
No, our residents most often stay more than one night and may keep their belongings in their closets. Residents begin a case file with our case manager in the first few days to ensure timely relocation to more permanent housing.
What does the case manager do?
The case manager opens a case on each adult resident with the ultimate goal of placing the residents in more permanent housing. The case manager reviews income amounts and sources, employment, credit, medical needs, personal safety, child care needs (babysitting, school transportation outside the City of New London, food, clothing, etc.) and more. The case manager tries to quickly ensure the resident is safe, healthy, employed, well-fed and on the track to establishing their own home.
Do you operate under a balanced budget and open for auditing regularly?
Yes, under the legislation for our 501(c)3 status, we have open financial records and seek regular auditing and self-oversight. Please contact us for more information at: 860.443.2184.
Do you have paid employment available?
No, at this time we do not have any job vacancies. Please check back later as we will update as vacancies arise.
Why do people need to stay in a homeless shelter for an extended time period if they find employment and income?
Generally our residents arrive with bad or no credit history, not to mention a general lack of monetary savings. Residents need to save enough money in order to put down a deposit and pay a rent outside our Shelter.
What are the Hours of Operations?
Our families are welcome to stay in the building at all times. Single men and women must leave the building by 8:30 am. They can return for lunch from 12-1 pm, then return to the shelter for the evening at 4:30 pm. The Covenant Shelter is open 365 days per year, 7 days per week, 24 hours a day.
Why don't neighboring cities and towns provide homeless support (such as Stonington, Mystic, Old Lyme, etc.)?
The Covenant Shelter has no place in state governance that decides how one town or city provides assistance to the homeless population over another town or city. Rather, the Covenant Shelter was simply established to provide assistance to those in need of housing. We welcome assistance from most any source, regardless of city or town affiliation. For more information on the regional homeless solution, please contact your local state, town, or city political representative.
I would like to learn more. To whom can I talk to?
If we cannot answer your question via this website, please feel free to email or call us.
I would like to help by volunteering or by donating. How can I help?
For more information, click here...
How long has the Covenant Shelter been operating?
The Covenant Shelter was originally founded in 1983. The Shelter recently celebrated there 25th Anniversary and also completed a $200,000 roof/dormitory renovation project which will insure the continuation of services to our guests for many years to come.
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