Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project (YHHAP)

Our Mission:

The Yale Hunger and Homelessness Action Project is a student-run not-for-profit organization that works on behalf of New Haven’s homeless and near-homeless communities. Through direct service, fundraising, education, and advocacy, we aim to alleviate the immediate effects of homelessness while working to address its root causes and pursue long-term solutions.

Our Activities:

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Direct Service
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a nation-wide program founded by the IRS in 1971. Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free tax services for low-to-moderate income families. VITA helps community members who (1) generally make $55,000 or less, (2) have disabilities, or (3) speak limited English. In this way, VITA offers accurate filing services while saving clients tax preparation fees.

Yale students operate one of the most active and dedicated VITA centers in the New Haven region. Led by students from all across the university, Yale VITA expands access to vital tax services, leaving a large, quantifiable impact for those in need. In the Spring, the Yale VITA site operates six days a week out of the Ives Main Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library system. Our site welcomes non-English speakers, and encourages taxpayers to come in all throughout tax season.

Restaurant Rescue Project
Direct Service
Picking up food from local restaurants and grocery stores and delivering it to nearby shelters in need of food donations.

Kitchen to Kitchen (K2K)
Direct Service
We bring whatever food the dining halls have left over throughout the week to a local soup kitchen.

Community Health Care Van
Direct Service
The CHCV YHHAP works with the Community Healthcare Van, an effort by Yale School of Medicine, to reduce the harm associated with drug use. CHCV volunteers prepare crack pipe and narcan kits that are distributed by the coordinators of CHCV around the community.

Yale Community Kitchen
Direct Service
We take extra food from Yale dining halls and reprepare it to be served by us to the New Haven community on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Yale Community Kitchen
Direct Service
We take extra food from Yale dining halls and reprepare it to be served by us to the New Haven community on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Elm City Echo
Direct Service
Visiting community partners and speaking with the people there who are experiencing homelessness, collecting writing, poetry, prose, etc. from then.

Community Health Care Van (CHCV)
Direct Service
The CHCV YHHAP works with the Community Healthcare Van, an effort by Yale School of Medicine, to reduce the harm associated with drug use. CHCV volunteers prepare crack pipe and narcan kits that are distributed by the coordinators of CHCV around the community.

Clothing Closet x Common Closet
Direct Service
Common Closet is a consignment and donations project focusing on increasing circularity of clothing purchases and use as well as supporting local New Haven non-profits. We collect clothes from Yale students and then sell them at pop-up events, with all profits going to Loaves and Fishes, along with any items we do not sell.

Volunteer Income Tax Assistance
Direct Service
The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) is a nation-wide program founded by the IRS in 1971. Through VITA, IRS-certified volunteers provide free tax services for low-to-moderate income families. VITA helps community members who (1) generally make $55,000 or less, (2) have disabilities, or (3) speak limited English. In this way, VITA offers accurate filing services while saving clients tax preparation fees.

Yale students operate one of the most active and dedicated VITA centers in the New Haven region. Led by students from all across the university, Yale VITA expands access to vital tax services, leaving a large, quantifiable impact for those in need. In the Spring, the Yale VITA site operates six days a week out of the Ives Main Branch of the New Haven Free Public Library system. Our site welcomes non-English speakers, and encourages taxpayers to come in all throughout tax season.

Clothing Closet Project
Direct Service
Donating clothes to New Haven community members free of charge!

Elm City Echo
Direct Service
Visiting community partners and speaking with the people there who are experiencing homelessness, collecting writing, poetry, prose, etc. from then.

YMCA Community Fridge
Direct Service
Together, we’re dedicated to strengthening the community by giving back and supporting our neighbors. The Dwight Community Fridge is located at the New Haven YMCA Youth Center, located at 50 Howe Street in New Haven. It is designed as a “take what you need, leave what you can” program. The community fridge project happily accepts donations of prepackaged, prepared meals, fresh produce, dairy, non-perishables, snacks, and more. It is available to the community daily based on the schedule below.

YHHAP Advocacy Team
Advocacy, or Activism
Communicate and provide resources for local grassroots organizations fighting for housing justice. Building a policy databank of housing policy in New Haven/CT over the past 50 years. Lead testimony writing workshops.

Common Closet
Fundraising
Collect clothing from Yalies and New Haven Community to consign and sell, donating profits to New Haven organizations.

Student Leaders:

Megan Blackwell - Co-Coordinator/Co-President Nikhe Braimah - Co-Coordinator/Co-President