Shortly after the Jan. 6 blaze that destroyed a city block along Howe Avenue in Shelton TEAM Inc.
became the lead agency in helping resettle the fire victims.
The fire displaced 29 people who were living in 23 low-income apartments above the stores destroyed in the fire.
The fire displaced 29 people who were living in 23 low-income apartments above the stores destroyed in the fire.
BHCare
is helping secure housing for their clients who were affected by the
fire and the Red Cross helped fire victims find immediate short-term
housing. The majority of the fire victims are being assisted by TEAM
Inc.
TEAM Inc. staff has worked
tirelessly to help fire victims identify potential housing sources,
find donated furniture and clothing and secure security deposits on new
apartments.
The work has taken precedence over TEAM's daily operations and has created a significant ripple effect in the amount of work needed to be completed by the Derby-based nonprofit.
The work has taken precedence over TEAM's daily operations and has created a significant ripple effect in the amount of work needed to be completed by the Derby-based nonprofit.
As a result, the Valley
Community Foundation and the Valley United Way each committed $5,000
and the Katharine Matthies Foundation, for which Bank of America serves
as Trustee, donated $7,500 towards TEAM's work to help fire victims
cover the costs of initial rent payments and security deposits, which
are often double or triple the cost of one month's rent.
TEAM Inc. also
received assistance from The Howe Avenue Relief Fund (created by the
Echo Hose Hook & Ladder Company 1 that responded to the fire), the state Department
of Social Services and New Haven Home Recovery to help fire victims cover move-in costs.
The total estimated cost for helping the fire victims is $20,000.
The total estimated cost for helping the fire victims is $20,000.
Thanks to TEAM's tireless
work, seven fire victims have already found new apartments, and more
are in the process of securing apartments. TEAM has collected enough
furniture to help individuals replace what they lost in the fire.
"The United Way is pleased
to be able to help the displaced tenants get back on their feet," said
Jack Walsh, President and Chief Operating Officer, Valley United
Way.
"The efforts of the firemen and other first responders have been incredible and the outpouring of support from the community was exceptional. We are pleased to support TEAM, whose effort is now focused on bringing some normalcy back to the lives of the displaced by getting them into permanent housing."
"The efforts of the firemen and other first responders have been incredible and the outpouring of support from the community was exceptional. We are pleased to support TEAM, whose effort is now focused on bringing some normalcy back to the lives of the displaced by getting them into permanent housing."
"Shortly after learning how
devastating the fire was, Jack Walsh and I were on the phone to figure
out where our resources could best be put to use to help the fire
victims. Our Board of Directors quickly agreed that it was important to
support TEAM while they take on this unexpected task without diverting
their much-needed resources from the community they serve," said
Valley Community Foundation President and CEO Sharon Closius.
"We at TEAM were so
impressed to see how quickly the entire Valley rallied around the fire
victims," said TEAM Inc. President & CEO Richard Knoll.
"We are especially grateful to the Valley's three biggest funders for coming together to help us recover the costs of resettling the victims, which will allow us to continue our regular work of serving the area's economically vulnerable."
"We are especially grateful to the Valley's three biggest funders for coming together to help us recover the costs of resettling the victims, which will allow us to continue our regular work of serving the area's economically vulnerable."
About the funders
Thanks to the generosity of
Valley donors, hundreds of thousands of grant dollars each year are
distributed from the Valley Community Foundation (VCF). In addition to
grantmaking, VCF works in strong partnership with The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven
toward building a stronger community by: working closely with donors to
grow and deepen the impact of their philanthropy; identifying and
supporting grassroots leadership; and strengthening nonprofits and
promoting philanthropy through technical assistance programs.
For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org; find VCF on Facebook and Twitter.
For more information, visit www.valleyfoundation.org; find VCF on Facebook and Twitter.
The Katharine Matthies
Foundation was established in 1987 to support and promote quality
educational, human services, and health care programming for
underserved populations.
Special consideration is given to organizations that work to prevent cruelty to children and animals. The Matthies Foundation specifically serves the people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. KMF is administered by Bank of America.
Special consideration is given to organizations that work to prevent cruelty to children and animals. The Matthies Foundation specifically serves the people of the Lower Naugatuck Valley. KMF is administered by Bank of America.
Valley United Way
is the leading philanthropic resource for the Valley towns of Ansonia,
Derby, Oxford, Seymour and Shelton matching the needs of the community
and the interests of donors to improve the quality of life in the
community. United Way supports and creates initiatives addressing youth,
families and people in crisis.
Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.
Each year Valley United Way funds programs and organizations that make a measurable difference in the lives of people living and working in the Valley.
This is a press release from The Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
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