Yale raises money for overflow shelter

New Haven (WTNH) - An overflow shelter is now opening during the winter season. Community groups are still trying to raise money to make sure it's able to stay open when it's needed most.

Men were lining up within the evening as the overflow shelter on Howard Avenue opened for the first night of the season. News Channel 8 got a look inside where there are beds for 77 men.

Last year, with nearly 300 homeless men in the city every night, the main shelter, Columbus House doesn't have room for everyone so this overflow shelter is critical to keeping homeless off the street.
 
The opening of this facility was delayed because city budget cuts meant money had to raised from other sources.

So community groups have stepped forward to raise close to $100,000 to keep the overflow housing open.

Yale New Haven Hospital and Yale University are donating thousands of dollars.

Now Yale students are trying to match that money and keep these beds available.

"If we raise $40,000, that's one more month and we have a full winter of safety for people who would otherwise be sleeping outside under bridges in tunnels, parking lots wherever they can," Heather Calabrese, of Greater New Haven United Way, said.

"We have said to the students, the administration has shown this an important issue, it cares about and we can match it this should matter to you and you can do this," Beth Reisfeld, a Yale senior, said.

The need for the over flow shelter is based on last year. This winter there will be even more demand, in part, because of the foreclosure fiasco and many low income renters suddenly finding themselves with no place to live.