New Haven – After spending the early months of 2026 sleeping in a tent outside a downtown church, 70‑year‑old Roger Atlas now calls a fourth‑floor apartment at The Towers his home. The rent‑subsidized unit, part of a senior‑housing community on Tower Lane, represents a rare success story for a city grappling with a growing senior homelessness crisis.
From Tent to Apartment
Atlas described his new living situation as “absolutely incredible,” noting that at his age, “it’s a horrible thing” to endure outdoor shelter, especially during winter. He now carries a key on a lanyard that opens the door to a bedroom, kitchen and armchair he can call his own.
Advocacy Continues
Despite securing housing, Atlas says he is not abandoning his activism. He remains a volunteer with the Unhoused Activists Community Team (U‑ACT), a group he helped launch while he was homeless. Atlas’s top priority is urging the city to open winter warming centers earlier than the current November 15 start date.
Support From Local Nonprofits
Atlas’s journey was aided by staff at Upon This Rock Ministries, a local faith‑based shelter on Grand Avenue. Delana “Ms. D” Williams personally helped him complete the application for The Towers, delivering paperwork, following up, and even locating him on the streets to ensure he didn’t miss any steps. “We saw him as a person, as family,” Williams said, praising Atlas’s consistent smile and willingness to help clean the shelter during his three‑month stay.
The Towers provides Section 8‑subsidized housing, with Atlas’s rent set at roughly 30 percent of his income—about $600 a month. Keach‑Longo, who leads the nonprofit that operates the building, explained that the organization offers on‑site assisted‑living and home‑care services, filling a niche for seniors who lack sufficient pension or Social Security income.
Broader Context of Senior Homelessness
Keach‑Longo warned that senior homelessness is a national crisis, noting that many retirees no longer receive adequate pensions and that Social Security was never intended to cover all living expenses. The result is a growing number of seniors forced onto the streets or into temporary shelters.
Community Reactions
Billy Bromage, a lead organizer with U‑ACT, called Atlas’s move “a success story” and highlighted the activist’s continued involvement in pressing the mayor to open a temporary warming center at 200 Orange St. Bromage also noted Atlas’s role in organizing a tent community outside First & Summerfield Church earlier this year, despite challenges with drug use among some participants.
Local leaders and volunteers see Atlas’s experience as a testament to the power of perseverance, dedicated advocacy, and timely housing resources. As the city works to expand winter warming options and affordable senior housing, stories like Atlas’s underscore the importance of community‑driven solutions.
Looking Ahead
Atlas plans to remain active with U‑ACT, continuing outreach every Thursday night and attending weekly lunches that coordinate assistance for New Haven’s unhoused population. His personal journey from tent living to a stable home serves as both inspiration and a call to action for policymakers, nonprofits and neighbors alike.
Original reporting: New Haven Independent — read the source article.
