Hartford-area homeless shelters at capacity as weather, COVID-19 strain system

Despite Connecticut boasting one of the country’s most robust systems to shelter people experiencing homelessness, winter weather and COVID-19 are combining to pose challenges to Hartford-area resources serving the city’s most vulnerable people.

Though infection rates are declining statewide, outbreaks among staff and volunteers have forced shelters to make do with thin crews working extra shifts.

Meanwhile, the capital city’s two warming centers — one for individuals at 110 Washington St. and one for families at 104 Vine St. — are at capacity as temperatures and snow fall, according to Salvation Army Maj. Migdalia Levenbein.

“This is a difficult time for people to be outside, and it’s incredibly dangerous right now, with the way the temperatures have been,” Lavenbein said.

Read more: https://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-news-shelters-cold-weather-covid-20220130-p7wbwvuedjbglmv3dz5mbvxt6u-story.html