The Stratford Homelessness Taskforce

Uniting Stratford

The Stratford Homelessness Taskforce is a community-driven grassroot coalition in Stratford, Connecticut, formed to address local suburban housing insecurity and coordinate relief efforts.

The initiative officially grew out of a town-wide community reading initiative at the local library centered around the book When We Walk By, which highlights systemic breakdowns in how America addresses housing crises.

The Taskforce operates as a cross-sectional network consisting of about 18 core community members. It relies heavily on partnerships between local faith-based groups, regional experts, and residents, including:

  • The Housing Collective: A regional organization that supports the task force’s operational efforts.

  • The First Congregational Church of Stratford: Serves as the primary meeting and community hosting hub for the task force's public forums and planning sessions.

  • Local Advocates: Led in part by organizers from the church’s Social Justice Team alongside residents with lived experience in housing insecurity.

In 2025, 1,103 residents in Stratford called 211 because they were experiencing a housing crisis… 27% did not receive the shelter support they needed.

Stratford and Connecticut at large is facing a housing crisis. Wages are not keeping up with the cost of living. In Stratford, a single income earner now needs to make $37.83 an hour to afford a two-bedroom apartment.

This task force aims to shift the local approach to homelessness from reactive crisis management toward proactive, long-term stabilization through three pillars:

  • Community Conversations: Hosting public, open-space learning forums to erase stigma and educate Stratford residents on the root causes of suburban homelessness.

  • Short and Long Term Solutions: Working closely with service providers to build a blueprint that tackles both immediate emergency shelter gaps and long-term housing affordability.

  • Resource Optimization: Connecting local faith groups, residents, and leaders to maximize regional aid capacity without duplicating efforts.

To gain a deeper understanding of homelessness in Stratford and the resources and supports that are available, the following two PDFs are a great starting point: Stratford Homelessness Resources and Supports & Homelessness in Stratford.