Oct. 29--NEW HAVEN -- Eleven area churches and synagogues have volunteered to house homeless men this winter, helping to plug a shortfall in emergency shelter capacity caused by deep budget cuts this year and last.

Many of the congregations have been longtime supporters of the homeless, including cooking for soup kitchens and collecting donations for Columbus House shelter, but this is the first year the faith-based community will directly provide shelter.

The effort will begin Jan. 11 and continue through March, backed by interfaith support from congregations in New Haven and Hamden.

A meeting last week to coordinate the initiative attracted nearly 70 people, those in attendance said. In addition to 11 congregations that will open their doors overnight, other groups, including Yale University students, offered to volunteer.

Still, several religious leaders said the volunteer effort can't be a permanent fix, and the initiative is expected to be coupled with advocacy for a more sustainable solution.

At least one volunteer will remain awake overnight while homeless men sleep. During that time, some volunteers intend to write to Gov. M. Jodi Rell seeking increased state funding for the homeless, said the Rev. Alex Dyer, associate rector of Trinity Church on the Green.

Rell spokesman Rich Harris said the state directed "a sizable amount" of stimulus money towards homelessness, including $10.8 million aimed at preventing homelessness.

"I don't know that funding could be increased any further than it already has been. People are probably not aware of what has already been done," said Harris.

Columbus House, which also runs the winter overflow shelter, will provide transportation to host congregations, cots and linens and volunteer training. Congregations have been asked to serve a group of 12 homeless men each week.

Columbus House is at capacity and has had to turn men away, said Executive Director Alison Cunningham.

"When we look at the winter ... I know there are going to be issues with overcrowding at the shelter. We've been full all summer at Columbus House, as has Immanuel Baptist (shelter)," she said.

Having space at a church or synagogue for 12 men "is really tremendous," she said. "That's 12 cots out of Columbus House or out of the overflow that we don't have to put up. It's a significant help."

"This is a justice issue, not a charity issue," said the Rev. Kathleen McTigue of the Unitarian Society of New Haven. "Everybody who is participating sees this as a default solution, not the ideal solution.

"It comes at a time when both the need for shelter has risen dramatically and budget cuts have created a big gap between the needs and the services. ... We are offering some coordinated pressure on both state and federal governments to step up. It is their job as the coordinator of services to help those who are falling through the cracks," she said.

Congregation Mishkan Israel will act as host the first week.

"People want to be helpful and do this, and they see it as part of their religious mission and support for the community," said Rabbi Herbert Brockman of Congregation Mishkan Israel.

For Brockman, opening his congregation doors is partly a spiritual decision, fulfillment of a Yom Kippur reading that calls on Jews to welcome the poor into their homes. "We are fulfilling our own spiritual journeys," Brockman said.

There has been discussion of making the effort a yearly tradition, but Brockman said he hopes a more permanent solution is found.

The Cedar Street overflow shelter is expected to open the second week of November despite limited funding. Advocates are relying on fundraising to keep the shelter open into May.

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