WESTPORT–Homes with Hope, a Westport-based agency that battles homelessness and hunger, set a new record for itself last year, serving 2,195 individuals and families.

“Your support resulted in thousands of individuals and families across Fairfield County accessing food, shelter, housing, and supportive services when they needed them most,” the non-profit organization said in an email to supporters. “From emergency assistance to long-term housing solutions, our programs continued to provide stability, and a path forward, for our neighbors facing housing and food insecurity.”

The numbers, according to the organization:

• The Gillespie Center and Hoskins Place Emergency Shelter and DoDo & Jim’s Community Kitchen served 75 people seeking emergency shelter and meals. The programs are open 365 days a year.
• The Food Pantry served 1,090 households (nearly 3,200 adults and children) facing food insecurity. The new pantry offers non-perishable goods as well as fresh fruits and vegetables, meat, milk, eggs and personal hygiene items. Clients may visit once a week.
• The organization’s Diversion HUB in Norwalk made appointments with 427 people on the verge of homelessness to help find immediate housing. 
• Homes with Hope’s 71 supportive housing sites served 133 residents referred through the Coordinated Access Network (CAN). All sites offer case management services.
• The Youth Academic and Personal Growth Programs served 121 individuals. The programs include ASAP, HEAL and the Carol Randel Mentoring Program.
• Short-Term Case Management Services connected 83 individuals to the resources they need to help them maintain their housing into the future. 
• The CT Basket Brigade, now managed by Homes with Hope, served 266 full Thanksgiving dinners to local families in need.

“This data demonstrated what is possible when a community responds time and time again with compassion and care,” the agency wrote. “The need for stable housing and reliable food access continues and so does our commitment to addressing it.”

Homes with Hope also thanked the more than 1,210 donors and more than 200 organizations and individuals who volunteer with its programs.