Category: Current Issue



Shelter for
homeless
to open
Volunteers sought
DANIELSON — Communities of Putnam, Killingly, Brooklyn, Woodstock, Pomfret, Plainfield, Sterling, and Thompson are boosting their capacity to keep the area’s homeless population safe this winter with the Northeast No Freeze Project. New winter shelter capacity next to the Access Emergency Shelter in Danielson is currently being renovated after an outpouring of support from the community.
St. Albans Church’s Rectory, 254 Broad St., will open as soon as renovations are done to accommodate up to 30 individual men and women per night as needed through March 31. Families with children will be sent to the Access Emergency Shelter on Reynolds Street.
Access operates one of only two year-round Family Emergency Shelters in northeastern Connecticut, with 40 beds to shelter individuals and families. Over the past three years, the Access Shelter which is located in Danielson has also allowed as many as 15 additional people who are not residents of the Shelter to stay overnight in the first floor community room. A group of local nonprofits in collaboration with local town government, faith communities and concerned residents came together and formed the Northeast No Freeze Project to create a space to shelter people experiencing homelessness during the winter in northeast Connecticut.
Ashley Vienneau is the new Volunteer Coordinator for the project and is taking applications for volunteers. The Northeast No Freeze Project will need as many as 30 individuals willing to volunteer for one night per month or 15 volunteers for 2 nights per month. Please contact Vienneau at 860-207-4279 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or to get an application.
Guests are allowed to enter the Shelter each night between 8 and 10 p.m. if sufficient staff coverage is available.  No guests will be admitted to the Shelter after 10. Guests will be asked to present an ID but will NOT be denied shelter for lack of ID. Guests with felony convictions will be allowed in the Shelter. The Shelter closes each day at 8 a.m., at which time all guests must leave the property, unless they have an appointment scheduled with an Access staff member helping guests find housing. Each guest is allowed to bring into the Shelter one bag or backpack of personal belongings. No food is allowed in the shelter, the Northeast No Freeze is simply a warm place for the night.

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