Elm City COMPASS Crisis Response team expanding hours, availability for New Haven community

Reported by Julia LeBlanc, FOX61 │ July 19, 2023

Compassionate Allies Serving Our Streets) has been running as a pilot program since 2022. Now, it’s transitioning into a long-term initiative.

NEW HAVEN, Conn. — Since November of 2022, New Haven has been testing out a new initiative called Elm City COMPASS (Compassionate Allies Serving Our Streets). Created after the murder of George Floyd, the concept involves a team of social workers, clinicians, and peer counselors who respond alongside police and fire. The workers are not armed.

It’s meant to supplement their response and help those dealing with things like homelessness, substance use disorders, and mental health issues.