The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness will be providing part 2 of a 2-day training* for library staff to build their toolkit as they potentially help people navigate their housing crisis. The training will provide an overview of the homeless response system and provide basic knowledge about available resources as well as focus on how to effectively intervene in a housing crisis and assist in connection to services. There will be an emphasis on the practice of Shelter Diversion, which is a strategy that prevents homelessness at the front door by helping people identify immediate alternative housing arrangements to shelter and, if necessary, connecting them with services and financial assistance to help them return to permanent housing. Diversion can reduce the number of households becoming homeless, the demand for shelter beds, and the size of program wait lists. This 2-day training will provide knowledge and resources and will also be interactive and engaging to coach you through having person-centered and respectable diversion conversations with those that are in the library and currently experiencing a housing crisis.

This session will take place in Zoom and participants are asked to have cameras to engage for the duration of the training.

*Please note, part 1 is an introduction session on October 19. Library staff are welcome to attend either or both sessions.

Presenters:

Amber Freeman, Interim Director of Technical Assistance and Capacity Building, oversees training, technical assistance, community impact and financial assistance programs for CCEH. Amber comes to CCEH with over twenty years of experience in the human service and behavioral health field, with the last 10 years being in management positions. Amber has worked in various capacities with individuals and families in diverse settings. Amber has experience with compliance, working with and managing programs for individuals with mental health, substance abuse, and co-occurring diagnoses as well as individuals experiencing homelessness and those with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Amber is a two-time graduate of Hampton University in Hampton, VA where she received her BA in Psychology Education and her MA in Community Agency Counseling.

Diana Berube, Program Manager for Prevention and Exit Strategies, began work in the homeless services field in Connecticut in 2015 as a Grant Coordinator providing McKinney-Vento services to unstably housed students and families for Bristol public schools. Diana previously was the Housing Coordinator for the task force to end homelessness in her hometown of Bristol as well as a Navigator for St. Vincent DePaul Emergency Shelter.  In both roles, she worked in the community identifying people experiencing homelessness and helping them navigate homeless and housing services. Her most recent position was conducting assessments as a Housing Support Specialist at the Central CT Coordinated Access Network Diversion Center.

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