“I hope everybody can continue to help and contribute to this organization because they do fine work for a lot of people.”
Melissa – U.S. Veteran
Provided Security Deposit Support
As of 2020, there were 2,905 individuals experiencing homelessness in Connecticut, of which 306 were families. Bridgeport is the largest city in Connecticut with a population of 148,654 as of 2020, located in Fairfield County, one of the wealthiest counties in the country; however, Bridgeport suffers from a high poverty rate of 21.8% as of 2021, nearly double the U.S. average and Connecticut average. The average rent in Bridgeport, CT for a one/two-bedroom apartment is between $1,400 and $1,750, which has increased nearly 20% over the prior year and 30% since 2018. Most landlords require a one or two months’ rent security deposit that puts a extra financial burden on the prospective tenant of at least $1,400. Pulling these resources together is nearly impossible for the homeless or near-homeless – with a recent study showing 7 in 10 Americans live paycheck to paycheck.
As the country and Bridgeport approaches the end of the pandemic, financial support through federal direct payments, state rent relief funding, expanded unemployment benefits, and the ending of the eviction moratorium, will no longer provide a safety net. There will be a higher need for support to prevent homelessness and to preserve the community, in Bridgeport and Fairfield County.
Financial Support
OTSB is seeking to raise $200,000+ over the next five years in total financial support in the form of grants and endowments from foundations, corporations, local charities (i.e., Lions & Rotary Clubs) and churches, synagogues, state and federal aid, private charities (Knights of Columbus) fundraising events and individual donations. This level of funding will help provide sufficient resources to support the homeless so OTSB will never need to turn away a homeless person for lack of funds. It will also allow OTSB to expand its impact in Bridgeport and throughout Fairfield County in helping to resolve homelessness in our community.
A successful Bridgeport helps maintain a successful Fairfield County and Connecticut!