153 East Street New Haven, CT 06511 P (203) 492-4866 • F (203) 492-4872 www.newreach.org
PRESS RELEASE November 7, 2014 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Media Contact: Kellyann Day Phone: 203-492-4866 Cell: 203-506-5533 kday@newreach.org
Homeless Veteran Family Secures Housing Housing first model works (NEW HAVEN, Conn.) – Lizan Richelle, a Veteran of the United States Army, and her daughters were living on the streets. Lizan was working with temp agencies for employment, but was not making enough to afford her rent. She and her daughters were living with family and friends temporarily, but had no permanent housing. Lizan was connected to the Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) through the Errera Community Care Center in West Haven, CT. SSVF connects veteran families who are at risk of homelessness or are homeless with housing and other support services. SSVF secured housing for Lizan and her daughters within a month. With stable housing, Lizan secured a job and is going back to school for medical billing. “The SSVF program is designed to follow the housing first model,” explains Kellyann Day, CEO of New Reach, “With stable housing, families like Lizan’s can focus on employment, education, health care, and more.” SSVF has housed seven veterans this past October. “Life is about never giving up and knowing when to as for help,” Lizan Richelle shared, “With help from New Reach, I was able to get back on my feet.” New Reach Inc. was established in 1990 to provide emergency shelter for families, and is working in the New Haven area to address the housing and support service needs of women with children. New Reach provides services to families who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. New Reach has developed its programs to include emergency shelter, supportive housing, children’s programs and The Furniture CoOp. For more information, visit the Web site at www.newreach.org.
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