Volunteers hope to have overflow shelter open Jan. 1

WINSTED — With homelessness expected to be worse than ever this holiday season in Winsted, a group of volunteers has organized to open an overflow shelter at the Gaylord-Tiffany building, aka the green building, on Rowley Street.

Selectman Lisa Smith is heading up the effort, along with the Church of Christ and a number of volunteers who expect to have the shelter up and running by the first of the year.

“It’s going very well,� Smith said. “We got the church to fully commit and we were thinking of using the senior center, but we settled on the Gaylord-Tiffany building. We have received the OK from the fire marshal.�

Smith said the main thing organizers are looking for now is volunteers who are willing to spend overnights at the shelter.

“We need people to step forward and monitor the shelter from 9 p.m. to 6 a.m. We’re going to set it up for 12 cots, and we’re trying to model it after Torrington’s overflow shelter.

“Basically, their overflow is overflowing,� Smith added.

Smith noted that the Northwest YMCA in Winsted is the town’s primary shelter and that demand is higher than ever for rooms. In the past, people unable to get a room have been forced to go to Torrington’s overflow shelter or elsewhere. Having an overflow shelter available locally will make it easier for people who are already having a difficult time, particularly during the holiday season and winter months.

Smith said all people utilizing the shelter will have to go through a signup process and that the overflow shelter will be solely for a place to sleep.

“It’s one big open building,� she said. “Two volunteers will be running it each night, and we have the police involved to make sure there are no issues. The Torrington people have said they’ve had no issues with stealing, vandalism, fighting or any other problems like that.�

Organizers from the YMCA notified the town early this holiday season that they expected the need for beds to be on the rise.

“The scary thing that’s on the rise is single parents who are being evicted from their apartments,� Smith said. “Homelessness among children is what is really on the rise. We want to get these families in from the cold.�

Bob Haybaury from Winsted Oil is donating 200 gallons of oil to keep the overflow shelter heated, Smith noted.

“I think it’s tremendous that he’s doing that,� she said.

Smith said the overflow shelter is being funded entirely by private donations, which are being secured in a town account by Finance Director Henry Centrella. Those who need to use the shelter will not be charged a fee.

Anyone who wants to donate to the shelter or volunteer to staff it should call the Winchester Recreation Department at 860-379-8670 or the town manager’s office at 860-738-6962. Checks may be sent to Overflow Shelter, in care of Winchester Town Hall, 338 Main St., Winsted, CT 06098.

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