LIBERTY SAFE HAVEN
Opening doors to a new beginning.
The opening of Liberty Safe Haven in 2005 was a historic event since it represents the first and only Safe Haven in Connecticut. A national model, the facility was created as a refuge for hard-to-reach homeless (or chronic homeless), who have experienced repeated and/or extended bouts of homelessness in our community.
The 33 efficiency style apartments offer permanent housing to 22 chronically homeless adults, as well as 11 homeless adults confronting mental illness who are a part of our Open Door Alliance program. Half of the apartments are set aside for residents living with HIV/AIDS.
Liberty Safe Haven offers residents access to a variety of support services, including but not limited to, supportive housing case management, psychiatric nursing, crisis intervention, counseling, addiction and recovery supports and daily living skills development. Liberty is also working with other community agencies to develop outreach and other programs that will promote integration into the New Haven community.
In addition, Liberty Safe Haven includes offices, opportunities for community participation in programs and events and, retail space on the ground floor. This facility certainly helps to reinvigorate the historic Ninth Square District and also benefits its residents, neighborhood and the community.
A Place to live while restoring a life.
Liberty Safe Haven, a 26,000 square-foot building on 210 State Street, is a first-of-its-kind facility in Connecticut that provides permanent residence to 33 adults experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness. Liberty Safe Haven is built on the solid foundation that no one is beyond the capacity to have a full life. But first, we need the permanence and security of our own home. What we seek is to build the trust of our residents. What we offer is a new beginning.
The individuals who Liberty Safe Haven serves represent only 10 percent of the homeless population in our community. Yet, this small group maintains the highest utilization for community services such as hospital emergency rooms, mental health and addiction treatment facilities, and correctional facilities. By living here and having access to supportive services, we decrease the reliance on traditional community supports and make them less likely to return to the streets.
Liberty Safe Haven is part of our New Haven’s heritage. The historic 19th century brick building, formerly the F.D. Grave Cigar Factory, was fully restored, and is situated in New Haven's historic Ninth Square District.
Thank You
Liberty Community Services wishes to thank the program sponsors who helped make Liberty Safe Haven a reality. Your generosity and commitment to supporting those experiencing homelessness, our agency, our city and our community is greatly appreciated.
- Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development
- Connecticut Department of Social Services
- Corporation for Supportive Housing
- Federal Low Income Housing Tax Credit Program
- The Melville Charitable Trust
- New Alliance Bank
- United Illuminating Company
- Webster Bank
- The Connecticut Hospital Association
- Greater New Haven Loan Fund
- MMA Financial
- Sovereign Bank
- City of New Haven
- Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services
- Connecticut Housing Finance Authority
Governor Rell Proclaims "Liberty Safe Haven Day"
