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Date: 11/12/2020
ENFIELD, CT – The Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center is in need of funds for their operations, training, staffing and purchasing of goods and supplies. Due to COVID-19, they’ve had a great deal of fundraising reduced this year. Nonetheless, the center continues to keep the homeless safe and warm this season.
“We are still in the mission in outreach for the homeless in Enfield,” said Communications Committee Chair Rosalind Swift. “We’re going to continue to march forward, but we are operating quite differently,”
The Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center is a part of Enfield People for People, a non-profit organization providing shelter for the homeless during the winter. They are connected through the town of Enfield, Journey Home and CHR (Community Health Resources).
On the average, they provided aid to 35 families during the week, which overall, comes to 600-700 families during the winter season. They had expected to increase because they are in a location where the homeless mostly were in Thompsonville and could get to the center easier, as opposed to going to Hazardville where the center was actually housing.
“We saw the need growing. It was growing before COVID,” Swift replied. “We do not have any other type of shelter or warming center. We are the only organization in town that is supplying that particular need.”
This year, Enfield Safe Harbor is strictly an Engagement and Outreach center. They’ll be meeting at St. Patrick’s Church, giving out clothing, masks, blankets and sleeping bags three nights a week from 6 to 9 p.m. during the months of Jan. 3 to March 27, 2021.
“The way the program is falling in line to work this year, we will be like an intake,” Swift said. “The homeless comes to the church, they’ll be connected with resources that night. They'll be put into the 211 system and added to the CANs (Coordinated Access Networks) system which is a rapid housing program. Hopefully, two to three nights of hotels as they try to get into the system. Once they are into the system, then they are no longer our responsibility. That's what we are doing this winter season.”
Even with the way the center is operating now, they still have a lot of finances to cover in part to COVID, such as the PPE's (personal protective equipment), all of the protocols they have to set up, the cleaning, the breakdown, etc.
In addition to funds, the center needs more clothing including hoodies, hats, gloves, mittens, as well as snacks, gas cards and bus tokens.
They have received a Wal-Mart grant from the East Windsor location and a check for $2,920 from the Archbishop’s Annual Appeal through its Vicariate Outreach Program.
“Our biggest hope is that we are going to be efficient and really meet the needs of the homeless,” Swift said. “The Enfield Safe Harbor Warming Center is a mission for our Enfield homeless. Fundraising is a year-long effort in order to continue operating. We are hoping by posting donations given by others will encourage companies to donate.”
To learn more about the Safe Harbor Warming Center, to volunteer or to donate funds or other items, contact Rosalind Swift at ep4p.eshw@gmail.com or call 860-741-2455.
Donations can be made via their web page or make checks payable to Enfield People For People and Enfield Safe Harbor on the memo line to P.O. Box 165, Enfield, CT 06083.