Protest Highlighting Danbury's Homeless Culminates Sunday

Former State Rep. Lynn Taborsak is taking the issue of homelessness to the front steps of City Hall once again for a protest that calls for action on the city’s 10-year plan to end homelessness.

According to the latest Point-In-Time count, there are 122 single homeless adults in the city and only 37 emergency shelter beds available.  

“It’s a humanitarian crisis and it has gone on for too long,” Taborsak said. “I hope that this protest will both make the problem more visible and result in more community support for finally getting some action.”

The protest will conclude on Sunday, July 13, and protestors will present their petitions calling for action to the City Council before the August meeting.  

“There is a new plan in the works to end chronic homelessness that will be presented to the Danbury Housing Partnership this September,” Taborsak said. “Let’s make sure we have a plan that will really provide Danbury’s homeless with a safe, stable place to rebuild their lives.”

Results of Jan. 29, 2014, HUD Point-In-Time Canvas:

• Volunteers counted 148 homeless persons in Danbury; 18 percent were in families with children and 82 percent were single adults.
• Since 2009, the Point-In-Time count has dropped by 4 percent in Connecticut but increased by 17 percent in Danbury.
• For 2014, Danbury has the largest proportion of single homeless adults than any other region in the state.
• Danbury’s homeless count has increased by 34 percent since 2009.