Over 28 nights from the end of October through the second to last week in November, nearly 81-percent of beds available at Danbury homeless shelter were used.  There were 560 bed nights available and only 20 beds were left over that time period. 

The Community Health team met with various community leaders and shelter staff to address the cold weather plans for the shelter. 

Councilman Bob Taborsak asked if it was possible to add the number of bed nights used, which are part of state records.  He gave the example of one night earlier this month, with the sleet and snow, and 6 people being turned away from Dorothy Day and the overflow shelter.  He hopes every bed at the City Shelter was used, if available, on a night like that. 

Health Department Director Lisa Morrissey says they've conducted interviews to hire additional shelter employees and are currently going through the hiring process.  Danbury Health and Human Services is part of the Fairfield County Emergency Shelter Learning Collaborative and has been working with other area shelters to improve outcomes. Staff recently attended a training, held by the National Alliance to End Homelessness, that outlined a plan to improve housing placement rates. 

Morrissey says the state is helping with rapid rehousing, and making apartments available in other municipalities for people not originally from Danbury.  If someone is coming to the Danbury shelter who last had permanent housing in New Milford or Bridgeport for example, the state is working to find them housing in those locations.