By Elizabeth Benton, Register Staff

NEW HAVEN — Running unopposed, state Rep. Cam Staples, D-New Haven, said he will not raise money for his campaign and instead plans to divert efforts to the overflow shelter for the homeless.

Homeless advocates have been rushing to raise money after city budget cuts left only $60,000 to run the Cedar Street overflow shelter.

With temperatures dropping sharply at night the shelters already are above capacity. The overflow is not expected to open until mid-November.

“Now is the time to take action,” Staples said. “The weather is getting colder and shelters are already seeing people coming to their doors.”

With $258,865 needed to keep the overflow shelter open through April, the city’s budget left a large gap to be filled by donors.

Inside At Night, a local committee on homelessness gave $100,000 to the effort, diverting some funds from other initiatives; Yale students have committed to raising $20,000; Yale-New Haven Hospital has given $20,000 and the city’s Community Service Administration hopes to raise $25,000 to $50,000. That still leaves another $10,000 to $35,000 to go, said city Community Services Administrator Kica Matos.

Yale-New Haven Hospital’s grant has been used as seed money to open a new fund called Shelter Now at the United Way of Greater New Haven, which will support the overflow shelter, said UWGNH spokeswoman Michelle Wade.

CSA’s tent city fundraiser is scheduled for 6 p.m. to midnight Nov. 20 on the Green; Yale students are organizing a similar event for Nov. 15 on campus, Matos said.

While Matos said the city was initially considering holding the event through the night, organizers felt the fundraiser would be more successful if it ended at midnight.

The fundraisers are reminiscent of the tent city protest in 2002, led by Yale students who objected to limits on shelter stays and temporary closure of the overflow shelter. Continued...

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As many as 100 people, including the homeless, slept on the Green for 52 nights in fall 2002 until the overflow re-opened in November.

Yale advocates for the homeless also have scheduled a campus fast for Nov. 20, asking classmates to divert their food stipend to the overflow shelter effort.

Yale a capella groups will perform a benefit concert at 3 p.m. Nov. 2 at Battell Chapel, with proceeds to go toward the Shelter Now fund.

Staples said he hopes to raise at least $10,000 at his event, scheduled for 5 p.m. Nov. 2 at the Eli Whitney Museum in Hamden. Speakers for the event are to be announced.

“I have the good fortune of running unopposed,” Staples said. “I didn’t feel it was a good use of resources for people to give me money to fund my campaign instead of giving it directly to the shelters, when they are not able to be at full capacity.”

“It’s critical we keep the shelters open,” Staples said.

While Staples said he felt it important “to do as much private fundraising as possible,” he vowed to seek state support for the shelters.

“I will push very hard for redirecting some funds to ensure the shelters are open and able to operate at full capacity throughout the state, not just New Haven,” he said. “It’s really important that the legislature commit to full funding for all shelter services throughout the winter.”

To contribute to the Shelter Now fund, send checks to United Way of Greater New Haven/Shelter Now at 71 Orange St., New Haven, 06510. United Way has waived administrative fees for the fund.

Elizabeth Benton can be reached at 789-5714 or at ebenton@nhregister.com.

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