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The Lisa Wexler Show

From Shelter to Solutions: Rethinking Homelessness in Connecticut

Season 2026, Ep. 8.5
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Helen McAlinden, President & CEO of Homes With Hope, joins Lisa Wexler to share how her organization is transforming the fight against homelessness in Connecticut. Since 2020, McAlinden has shifted Homes With Hope from a primarily shelter-based model to one focused on prevention, now serving over 80% of clients before they become homeless—while expanding supportive housing and securing more than $10 million in funding for new developments and critical renovations.


Drawing on more than 25 years of leadership in affordable housing, McAlinden discusses what’s really driving housing instability today, why prevention is the key to long-term solutions, and how innovative programs—from rapid re-housing to youth development—are helping individuals and families achieve lasting independence. She also reflects on her personal journey from rural Ireland to social work in the U.S., and how that experience continues to shape her mission to ensure safe, stable housing for all.

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