Jericho Partnership is closing their shelter at the end of this month. Danbury City Councilman Bob Taborsak is concerned that the City is losing 14 beds for the homeless. He volunteers with Dorothy Day and sees the need for services.

The homeless shelter at 13 Maple Avenue in Danbury, operated by Good Samaritan Mission, ended day-time engagement operations on August 2nd.  Health and Human Services Department Director Lisa Morrissey says they've been working with other community providers to see what resources are available.  She's also been working with the state to see what funding can be granted to alleviate some of the burden the community will face.

Danbury has increased the hours at the city shelter and officials are looking to see what staffing capacity there is to meet the needs.  Taborsak said he didn't know if it was true or not, but was told by visitors to Dorothy Day that the City shelter has stopped offering showers.  Morrissey said she wasn't aware of any issues of people being denied showers, but would look into it.

The closure stems from Jericho’s mission realignment and renewed focus to serve Danbury’s at-risk youth and, by extension, their families.  Discipleship House, a Jericho-run residential program for homeless and addicted men located at 22 Maple Avenue, will continue operations. 

Jericho President Carrie Amos said in a statement on their website that the Executive Board determined that the programs that truly lead to life-change are CleanStart and Discipleship House, and not the shelter itself.   Jericho staff is working to place people in other local or regional shelters; a small number of them will be invited to move into Discipleship House and engage in the long-term addiction recovery program there.