Alpha Community Services YMCA
and the
VIRTUAL 19^th Annual Walk to End Homelessness

The Alpha Community Services YMCA is a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast (CCC Y) YMCA Association. The CCC Y is a charitable, not-for-profit, community service organization dedicated to putting Judeo-Christian principles into practice through programs that build healthy spirit, mind, and body for all. The Y strengthens the foundations of communities and families through youth development, healthy living, and social responsibility in twenty-four towns and cities. The YMCA, historically, stands by our promise to serve ALL, regardless of their ability to pay. This aid to families supports our efforts to; build youth of strong character, to make our communities healthier, to close the educational achievement gap, to ensure ALL members of our communities are safe in and around water and to put an end to chronic homelessness.

Each May, a Walk to End Homelessness is held in Bridgeport to raise funds and support for the homeless members of our surrounding communities. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic, this annual walk was postponed. Alpha Community Services YMCA continued delivering support and services to the residents in need.

During the onset of Covid-19 and subsequent guidelines for distancing and recommended closures, the Alpha Community Services YMCA

• Retrofitted the South End Community Center to be an emergency overflow shelter. The shelter was opened on March 24^th in order to expand services and commitment to those who may not have a place to call home, with a maximum capacity for 35 individuals.
• Partnered with local hotels to utilize currently empty hotel rooms as a way to house those who may have a higher risk of contracting the Coronavirus. The current census across our hotels adds up to 69 individuals, which have all been serviced and supported by ACS Y staff.
• Retrofitted the Bridgeport YMCA to be an Isolation Space for patients discharged from Bridgeport Hospital, unable to return to their homes or communities. These patients received the care, attention, shelter and support they need for a full recovery from COVID-19.
• Served 31,815 meals thus far to include breakfast, lunch and dinner for the vulnerable individuals who stayed in our emergency hotel and other isolations spaces.
• Continued to shelter residents in need, and supported 26 households; 73 individuals, 37 adults and 40 children. 
• Served 12,335 meals in shelter programs, to ensure that breakfast and dinner are guaranteed to our clients on a regular basis.
• Provided laptops to assist 24 children with distant learning along with online health and wellness activities. 
• Housed 18 families, from our family shelter, amidst the pandemic.
• Provided over 28,925 meals to help encourage our clients to maintain social distancing and staying inside to continue to stay safe and healthy, within our supportive housing sites.

With a growing unstable economy and financial uncertainty of many Fairfield County households, our work is far from done.

We are proud to announce the 19^th Annual Walk to End Homelessness, A Walk with the Stars, will be a large celebration in a Virtual way, October 3, 2020.

Please Save the Date and consider joining us in a virtual celebration, to end chronic homelessness.

The Central Connecticut Coast YMCA is a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit, charitable community service organization. All donations are tax-deductible to the extent allowed by law. No goods or services were provided in exchange for your generous financial donation.