HANDS ON HARTFORD INC

THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT PROGRAM ORIENTS, TRAINS, SUPPORTS, AND PLACES VOLUNTEERS WITH ALL OF OUR DIRECT SERVICE PROGRAMS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO MANAGES LARGER CUSTOMIZED SERVICE PROJECTS, IMMERSIONS AND "DASH FOR A DIFFERENCE" EVENTS PROVIDING SERVICE LEARNING BOTH AT HANDS ON HARTFORD AND AT NON-PROFITS, SCHOOLS AND PARKS THROUGHOUT HARTFORD. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT ALSO ENCOMPASSES THE FACES OF HOMELESSNESS SPEAKERS' BUREAU, THROUGH WHICH SPEAKERS SHARE THEIR OWN EXPERIENCES OF HOMELESSNESS WITH DIVERSE AUDIENCES. IN 2023, 1,488 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 22,196 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THE HARTFORD AREA. FACES OF HOMELESSNESS SPEAKERS SPOKE AT 28 EVENTS IN 2023.

OUR HOMELESS PREVENTION PROGRAM OFFERS REFERRALS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE THROUGH PRIVATE FUNDS AND OPERATION FUEL, SECURITY DEPOSIT AND RENTAL ASSISTANCE, TRAINING AND EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE AND REFERRALS, NUTRITION EDUCATION AND HEALTH SCREENINGS TO HARTFORD RESIDENTS. WE PROVIDED HOMELESS PREVENTION SERVICES TO 285 HOUSEHOLDS IN 2023. OUR DAY CENTER IS OPEN FOUR DAYS AND ONE EVENING A WEEK (INCLUDING A FREE DINNER), WHICH IS A WELCOMING PLACE WHERE CARING STAFF AND VOLUNTEERS GIVE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY TO THOSE WHO OFTEN LIVE ISOLATED LIVES, AND WHERE GUESTS CAN SPEND THE DAY INDOORS. STAFF TRAINED IN SOCIAL WORK HELP GUESTS STABILIZE THEIR SITUATIONS AND TAKE STEPS TO MOVE TOWARD PERMANENT HOUSING AND SELF-SUFFICIENCY, AND HEALTH-CHECKS, A BIMONTHLY WALK-IN CLINIC, ENRICHMENT ACTIVITIES, RISK REDUCTION ITEMS AND HELP WITH REFERRALS ARE ALSO AVAILABLE. THIS PROGRAM OFTEN BECOMES A SPRINGBOARD FOR POSITIVE LIFE CHANGES, INCLUDING ACCESSING RESOURCES TO HELP WITH BENEFITS, HOUSING, AND EMPLOYMENT. IN 2023, WE PROVIDED 1,740 TARGETED NAVIGATION SERVICES, AND PEOPLE RECEIVED ONSITE HEALTH ASSISTANCE 711 TIMES.