The Friendship Service Center – Who We Are What We Do

Originally funded in 2002 by a grant from the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, PATH (Project for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) reaches out to those living on the outside – in abandoned buildings, doorways, under bridges, in parks, in makeshift tents or shacks – the hardcore, chronically homeless population who have burned bridges and for whom services are limited or nonexistent. Once the connection is made, work begins to try and convince the person to “come inside”, so together with staff, we can begin addressing issues that have prevented him or her from seeking help.

We provide temporary, emergency shelter for men, women and children on the second floor of our main building. Individuals may stay up to 30 days or longer, when appropriate, receive 3 meals per day and use of laundry facilities. Each resident works with a Service Coordinator to develop a case action plan. Case management services may include: counseling, crisis intervention, goal planning, assistance with obtaining housing and referrals to additional community support services including substance abuse treatment, education and job training and child care services.

Our Community Kitchen serves more than 114,000 meals each year. It evolved from the Community Free Supper Program, established by area churches in the early 1980’s to provide a free meal at 5:00 PM, six days a week, each day in a different downtown church. It soon became apparent that a permanent home for this program needed to be found. It was decided to renovate the first floor of the Friendship Center’s original building at 516 Main Street and incorporate the program as an additional service.
Today the Tomasso Family Community Kitchen provides lunch Monday through Friday to anyone in need and three meals per day, seven days per week to its residents and those ex-residents who continue to return both for meals and companionship. Area supermarkets are a valuable source of breads, rolls, muffins, pies, cakes and other pastries. This helps to ease our sizable food budget. We are always in need of donations of coffee, tea, sugar and canned and packaged foods. Our kitchen is also the primary source of community participation in this organization. In many cases, it is the first contact clients have with our programs. A welcoming, friendly atmosphere is cultivated through our volunteers and staff.

Funded by the Department of Social Services and HUD since 1992, the Transitional Living Program is a 6-month to 2-year program for 15 single homeless adults. Each participant has his/her own room. Case management is provided to all participants. Individualized case action plans are developed by the client and reviewed and updated at least monthly.

The target population includes people with mental health issues, substance abuse issues and those that lack education and employment skills to maintain independent living. The concept of habilitation (teaching life skills that have not been present before) rather than rehabilitation is a focus of this program as it relates to successful independent living. The structure, support and duration of this program have proven essential for this population in realizing independent living. Five of the 15 rooms are targeted to veterans who need a place to regain their live after serving our country in times of war.

Begun in 1985 as a collaborative effort of the New Britain Area Conference of Churches, Stanley Works and the United Way, the focus of this program is prevention of homelessness through financial assistance and referrals. It is designed to offer temporary cash assistance to help the people get back into a sense of stability. Assistance is provided for such needs as housing, utilities, medication, clothing, transportation, furniture, and other basic needs. The people served by this program are often facing a hardship that has been brought about by a recent change of events due to a medical or job related crisis. This program has developed quite a reputation throughout New Britain as the only place that can assist people with emergency financial aid when they fall between the cracks of the social service system. The majority of the funds come from area churches, foundations and the annual Walk Against Hunger fundraising event.

Funded through the US Department of Housing & Urban Development, homeless families and individuals are served by providing them with certificates for scattered-site apartments in the New Britain area. Under this program there are currently a total of 31 certificates available (19 for one-bedroom, 7 for two-bedroom and 5 for three-bedroom) for chronically homeless and/or disabled individuals. A chronically homeless person is one who is single and living in an emergency shelter or place not meant for human habitation. Like the Beyond Shelter Program, case management is provided for all PEAK program participants and participants pay 1/3 of their income for rent with the Program paying the remainder. Landlords like to work with the Friendship Center under this Program because they know their rent will be paid and case management will ensure tenant responsibility.

Funded by the Department of Social Services, the Beyond Shelter Program offers ongoing support to former Friendship Center residents who have moved to their own homes. Assistance is provided by showing how to set up a budget and manage money, maintain their home for their own and the community’s benefit and enjoy life as a responsible, contributing member of society. The Beyond Shelter case manager may also provide: transportation, as necessary, to doctor’s appointments, grocery shopping and other like errands, goal planning and life skills training, resume writing and job searching, monitoring and encouraging client progress, assistance in obtaining and maintaining housing, working with landlords and property owners in resolving disputes and providing referrals for additional community support services including treatment programs and daycare.

The Friendship Center is committed to helping those it serves find employment. We believe we must lead the way and therefore hire former residents as often as we can. At present, six of our 25 employees are former clients. In addition, the Friendship Center has taken a lead role in the Mayor’s Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness Employment Initiative. Headed by William McCue from McCue Mortgage and supported by Mayor Timothy Stewart, Greg Howey of Okay Industries, Michael Tomasso from the Tomasso Group and William Millerick from the Chamber of Commerce, over 10 former Friendship Center residents have been employed throughout the community.