The Alpha Community Services YMCA, a Bridgeport area pioneer in providing services dedicated to the homeless, has been a branch of the Central Connecticut Coast YMCA since 1992. As part of the Y, Alpha Community Services has grown and expanded its services, striving to provide not just temporary shelter but also a path to a better life for those experiencing homelessness. We manage the largest family emergency shelter in Connecticut and provide supportive services to over 400 clients each year.
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Alpha Community Services YMCA offers services to clients referred by Connecticut’s statewide system for addressing chronic homelessness, the Coordinated Access Network (CAN). Through CAN referrals, Alpha Community Services provides Family Navigation; Emergency Shelter focused on families; Permanent Supportive Housing; Supportive Services to Veteran Families and also has been instrumental in creating and sustaining the Bridgeport Housing First Collaborative. All Alpha CSY services include Case Management enriched through partnerships with a variety of community organizations. Alpha CSY provides specialized services to clients facing housing insecurity, as such, complies with all applicable privacy and confidentiality standards, including but not limited to, those of HUD, DOH, DMHAS, and HMIS.
Alpha Community Services YMCA provides case management services to all its clients. Case Managers provide support and crisis intervention for the clients. They link residents, both adult and youth, to mental health, substance abuse, employment, medical resources, educational opportunities and other services in the community. Case Managers assist families in the path of self-sufficiency.
In addition to offering support services through the case management model, ACS Y has developed its own programs for its clients: Workshops for Effective Parenting Skills, STD/HIV prevention, Dental Hygiene, Health and Wellness, Job Readiness, Eviction Prevention, and Financial Planning, among others.
Some of the activities for children include Summer Camp, Safety Around Water, swimming at the Y, arts and crafts activities, educational workshops, Read Across America day, Homework Assistance and Mentoring Programs.
387 Clinton Avenue serves as the Alpha Community Services YMCA (ACS-Y) Administrative Office. Located in the West End of Bridgeport, the three-story building was built in 1895. Case management and client group sessions supported by grants and the ACS-Y Annual Campaign are also conducted at this site.
Please open this file for a comprehensive list of Bridgeport Community Resources – Regional, Statewide, Federal and International: Bridgeport Community Resources Covid-19
The Early Childhood Consultation Partnership (ECCP) is a grant funded Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation Program designed to support the social emotional development of children birth to age 5. We know the best way to support children is to support their caregiving adults, which is why we partner with Early Care and Education Providers, Family Daycare Providers, and Parent and Guardians of young children. To understand more about what is available to your family read more: ECCP services available during COVID-19
Remote Early Intervention Evaluations Are Available Through Birth To Three. Not having a well child visit due to COVID-19? The Birth to Three System is accepting referrals during the COVID-19 Public Health Emergency. If you are worried about your child’s development, call Birth to Three (1-800-505-7000) for a remote Early Intervention Evaluation. To learn more about resources that are currently available: https://www.birth23.org/
The Thomas Merton Center has gone above and beyond in assisting the clients of Alpha Community Services YMCA during the Covid 19 pandemic by preparing sandwiches on a weekly basis to feed both the permanent supportive housing sites as well as the isolation space at the Bridgeport YMCA.
The nOURish Bridgeport Community Supper Program operating out of the Bessemer Center has partnered with Alpha Community Services YMCA to provide dinner meals to four of our permanent supportive housing sites in Bridgeport: Crescent Apartments, Fairfield Apartments, Harrison Apartments, and Franklin Apartments. These meals will be provided on a weekly basis throughout the month of May 2020 on every Thursday and Friday evening.
While making a client check-in call, we learned that one of our pregnant mom’s (child 7) was having a hard time with her family being quarantined in their Alpha Community Services YMCA apartment. There just wasn’t enough for the children to do! She asked for simple board games. The Y Case Manager contacted Trumbull Helps, Trumbull Latina Moms, Trumbull Talks, Trumbull Life Moms and others. Many Trumbull families offered donations! All kinds of new and used board games were collected – more than enough to share with our mom and many others.
A single mom with 3 children in the Alpha Community Services YMCA Bridgeport Housing First program needed face masks for her and her children. The Y Case Manager reached out to Trumbull Helps, and almost immediately, two wonderful people were pleased to help! The masks were hand-sewn and shared with our family to help keep them safe and healthy.
Gustavo is a 59 year old who battled addiction in his past. After couch surfing, staying in the streets, parks and inpatient programs – found himself homeless. After completing a transitional program, he was able to secure Alpha Community Services YMCA housing in April 2020. He only had his clothes and a television. Y Case Managers secured him the basic needs, a dresser and living room table. Gustavo is really grateful for the Y and all the donations to help him become self-sufficient.
Their mother was matched to a three bedroom apartment and will be moving out of the ACSY Shelter this month. They were residing in the shelter since August and will finally be getting a home of their own!
Laptops were donated by the Darien Public School IT Department, so that all the children living in the Brooks Street Emergency Shelter do not fall behind on their school work.
Volunteers and staff have picked up donations from the Westport Trader’s Joe’s nightly and delivered them to the shelter distribution.
Due to the Covid-19 Health Crisis, the nOURish Bridgeport Food Pantry was in jeopardy of closing. To ensure that the food was not wasted, the Y partnered with the pantry to distribute it to the ACSY Fairfield Apartment residents. Pallets of food were unloaded and reassembled into grocery bags and delivered–four times! It’s been difficult for these clients to due to shortages, costs and pantry closures. Over 120 bags of groceries were provided to 33 most grateful residents.
Due to extreme compromised family health concerns, an ACSY Crescent Apartment couple must stay home! The Y obtained critical cleaning supplies – soap, detergent, sponges, paper towels – and delivered them to their door step. Fresh produce and grocery donations were also delivered. Masks and gloves were provided so that the couple with ‘cabin fever’ could safely drive by the beach. The teary resident shared, “The Y has truly been nothing but a blessing to me…thank you.”
Neighbors at the ACSY Fairfield Apartments watch over each other! Two have been especially kind – encouraging each other to take daily, short walks with the dog! Being outdoors, talking and walking has certainly helped bring smiles to their faces–and reduce a little of their stress, nervousness and anxiety. The ACSY Fairfield Apartments are a community – filled with connections and friendships!
