Last Thursday, as volunteers delivered plates of baked mac-and-cheese to a packed house, Latesha Johnson took a seat at a table, offering a welcoming smile and paperwork at her fingertips to find shelter for the homeless.

With collaborations such as BHcare’s PATH, the idea of offering those in need “more than just a meal” is coming together at Community Dining Room (CDR). As BHcare’s homeless outreach case worker, Johnson helps many Valley families arriving at the doorstep of BHcare’s offices in downtown Ansonia. While BHcare has offices on the outskirts of Branford, until now, reaching the homeless on the shoreline has been a challenge.

“In Ansonia, we have people who literally hang out at the park all day; and that’s where they go, because they’re homeless,” said Johnson. “Our agency in Ansonia is one of the bigger buildings downtown, we’ve been there a long time and we’ve established a lot of connections. So people see us and they know us or they’ve heard about us through word of mouth. We’re trying to build those connections in Branford.“

Non-profit CDR serves residents in towns stretching from Old Saybrook to East Haven. BHcare’s Branford offices had already assisted CDR Executive Director Judy Barron with finding housing for some CDR clients in recent months.

“Hunger’s absolutely real in Branford. We know it’s happening and we’re providing a great service, but CDR’s new tagline is ‘More Than Just a Meal,’” said Barron, who joined CDR earlier this year. “My biggest goal when I came here was to look at the services that we have and the services that are needed, and to collaborate with other programs in the community that can help.”

Branford Counseling Center (BCC) is another organization working with CDR to assist clients. Right now, BCC is getting set up to train individuals to navigate Connecticut’s recently revamped Coordinated Access Network (CAN) 211 system. They will then be able to assist clients with shelter qualification routing on-site at CDR, said Barron.

“We’re trying to form that central location so everyone’s on the same page. Collectively, together right now, we’re tightening that up; and I think we’re going to be able to do great things in the community,” said Barron.

Johnson quickly recognized the bustling dining room at 30 Harrison Avenue as a place where she could help out first-hand on the shoreline. She contacted Barron with the idea of sharing her services in the dining room. Together, they devised a schedule which brings Johnson to CDR every third Thursday of the month during lunch hour. During her very first visit to CDR last month, Johnson was able to lend her expertise to five different families who are homeless or at-risk of homelessness.

“A lot of people who are in the homeless community don’t know about any state changes or the resources that are available,” said Johnson. “For example, right now, most housing lists, outside of Section 8, are arranged through the Coordinated Access Network. So getting into a shelter is different than it was a year ago. You have to go through 211; and then you have their assessment, and they place you or divert you or put you on a wait list. But what happens in-between getting into a shelter? That’s where PATH comes in.”

PATH provides outreach and engagement services to homeless, including emergency case management. At CDR, Johnson can provide screening and assessment and can begin the process of connecting clients with state programs or other opportunities. Johnson said she’s thrilled with the early results of this new CDR collaboration.

“One of the differences between the PATH program and traditional case management is we like to meet the people where they are. It adds a human quality to it. You don’t have to go into a stuffy office with a desk in front of you,” said Johnson. “In Ansonia, I go out multiple times a week, driving in the community, going in the streets, looking behind businesses to meet people. We always want make sure we’re more relatable. Sometimes, they don’t reach out because they feel judged or embarrassed or ashamed. This is a no-judgment zone. This is that middle ground we need, where people know they can come for help. It’s open arms, just to get them the support they need.”