Town of Hamden Community Services

 The Department of Community Services enhances the quality of life for Hamden residents by providing educational, recreational and social services and responding to the needs of our citizens during emergencies and through tough economic times. Whether the need is for emergency fuel, employment, food or shelter, Community Services is there to provide assistance and offer support for Hamden families.

Located at the M.L. Keefe Community Center in the heart of southern Hamden, Community Services has a staff of five full-time employees. In addition to Town funding, Community Services received a grant from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), which allows the department to assist residents in avoiding evictions, foreclosures and utility service interruptions.

While Community Services is best known for providing emergency services to people in need through its food bank, shelter to families displaced by fire, or assistance to families facing heating emergencies during the cold winter months, the department also engages in a number of proactive activities designed to give residents the tools to succeed and improve themselves, including a very successful workforce training program, collaborative efforts with local arts groups to provide artistic programming, and providing scholarships to children unable to afford to attend local summer camps.

Community Services encourages residents to take part in parent-learning programs funded through a grant from the Graustein Foundation. Parents and Communities for Kids (PACK) offer arts workshops and cultural performances in urban communities, providing opportunities for children and parents to learn together in an informal setting.