Thames River Community Service, Inc.
Who We Are
Thames River Community Service, Inc. (TRCS) was established in 1992, dedicated to providing critical housing and support services to formerly homeless individuals and families primarily of New London County. We serve area youths ages 18-24 who are at risk of homelessness. We offer a range of comprehensive services include counseling referrals, job readiness, and transitional housing. Our mission is accomplished by promoting family and individual wellness, by empowering an achievable plan for successful independent living, to pursue significant employment, to acquire life skills and to maintain stability.
At Thames River Community Service, Inc., we believe that every person deserves the chance to thrive, and we are committed to ensuring that our clients have the support they need every step of the way. Whether you are a client, partner, or donor, we invite you to join us in making a positive impact in Southeastern CT.
Who we serve:
Thames River Community Service, Inc. (TRCS) proudly serves homeless individuals and families primarily of New London County. We serve area youths ages 18-24 who are at risk of homelessness.
Our Programs
Through a combination of proven support strategies, including educational programs, employment readiness training, medical service referral, mental health and substance abuse referral, legal aid and beyond referral, we help young families and individuals embrace the great possibilities of their lives, overcome steep barriers to independence and make every effort to achieve their goals.
We affirm BIPOC and LGBTQ+ individuals and utilize positive youth development to help young families/individuals access housing, support services and skills needed to break the cycle of homelessness.
THAMES RIVER FAMILY PROGRAM (TRFP)
Thames River Community Service, Inc. was established in 1992 with the creation of Thames River Family Program (TRFP), which was a response to the rising number of families headed by single women who were homeless and living in poverty. Located in Norwich, CT and serving Southeastern CT, TRFP is a 24-hour staffed, transitional housing program with 21 apartments, where 3 apartments are dedicated to crisis housing.
Advocates and other supportive staff work closely with families coming from shelters to assist them in becoming employed and/or more employable, helping them to gain financial literacy by learning to budget and improve their credit, to acquire tenancy skills and to overcome criminal histories. There also is a great deal of effort to provide support and resources around the needs of their children by working collaboratively with other area social service providers and the educational system as well as mental health and wellness facilities. Staff works together with families to establish achievable goals in these areas so that they can leave TRFP for permanent housing in less than a year. Today, our families are parenting youth ages 18 to 24 years old. We are the only Youth Transitional Housing Program serving families in Connecticut.
As a transitional housing program with a length of stay of one year or less in Norwich, we serve new families as other families complete the program.
Supportive Housing Program (SHP)
In 2008, the agency’s Supportive Housing Program began with a grant received from the Connecticut Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Program participants receive rental assistance and support from staff who partner with the nine families to provide comprehensive, individualized services in safe and affordable scattered site housing units. Head of households have mental health and/or substance abuse disorders, are chronically homeless and have income at or below 50% of the median income of this area.
A home helps them to get adequate treatment and start on the path toward recovery. But some conditions make it difficult for people to maintain a stable home without additional help. Supportive housing, a highly effective strategy that combines affordable housing with intensive coordinated services, can provide that needed assistance.
Staff aim to help tenants remain housed. Our case managers help people find suitable housing, build relationships with their landlords, and understand their rights and responsibilities as renters. They also intervene to prevent evictions.
RAPID REHOUSING PROGRAM FOR YOUTH (RRH)
In December 2018, our agency was awarded funding through the CT Department of Housing to provide a Rapid Rehousing Program for young adults ages 18 to 24 years of age. We rapidly move youth from homelessness into permanent housing. Housing Advocates offer short- to medium-term financial assistance and provide developmentally appropriate case management and services.
The overall goal for our Youth Rapid Rehousing Program is for participants to obtain and retain permanent housing. RRH will be designed to allow youth to successfully acquire the life skills necessary to remain stably housed. Specifically, youth will have:
Immediate access to permanent housing with no preconditions such as employment, income, absence of criminal record or sobriety,
Once housing is established, services will be offered according to the unique needs and choices of each youth, using a low barrier approach that emphasizes community integration, stability and recovery.
Goals are individualized and client driven. They will have input and final decisions on action steps and timelines, as well as housing and service options.
There are three components of rapid rehousing: (1). Housing Identification, (2) Rent and Move-in Assistance, (3) Case Management and Services
YHDP Crisis Housing
In 2023 the agency’s YHDP Short-Term Crisis Transitioning Housing began, funded under the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Youth Homelessness Demonstration Program, which operates like crisis housing, providing low-barrier, temporary housing to young adults aged 18-24 at program entry who are homeless. Young adults must be engaged in a diversion/problem-solving conversation upon initial contact and admitted only if they are without a safe place to stay that night. YHDP Short-Term Crisis Housing must follow local CAN prioritization within funding guidelines.
Our goal is to quickly bring youth sleeping outside or in their vehicles into a safe and warm environment. Residents are linked to a case management, life skills and access to public benefits while waiting for more stable housing options in transitional or rapid rehousing program.
Life is Good
At Thames River Community Service, Inc. we help families to gain solid footing again. Everyday life moments happens here for children and family members.
Here are what some of our families have to say about us:
Our Supporters
Many local and national corporate partners, cities, and foundations have joined TRCS, providing grants, donations, and sponsorships supported by philanthropic initiatives. Our work would not be possible without the generous support we receive, and we welcome the opportunity to partner with companies and foundations interested in supporting our mission.
GFWC Unity in Diversity
Bank of America
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