Norwich — More than 40 representatives from agencies throughout eastern Connecticut working on efforts to end homelessness took a break from the daily grind Thursday to celebrate their accomplishments and reaffirm a challenge to effectively eliminate chronic homelessness by the end of the year.

“Zero: 2016” is the latest goal in the effort to end chronic homelessness among all populations.

Last year, advocates focused on ending homelessness among military veterans by the summer of 2015.

Thursday's gathering at Reliance House in downtown Norwich included members of the Connecticut Coordinated Access Networks in northeastern and southeastern Connecticut.

The group cheered the announcement by state Department of Housing Commissioner Evonne Klein that Connecticut was the first state to end chronic homelessness among veterans in 2015 and one of only two states to “effectively end homelessness for veterans.”

She said the state is “on the cusp” of ending chronic homelessness in general.

According to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development definition, a chronically homeless person is someone who has experienced a long period of homelessness and lives with a severely disabling condition.

In 2014, Gov. Dannel P. Malloy became one of only four governors to sign on to the Zero: 2016 initiative, and Norwich Mayor Deberey Hinchey was one of the first mayors to sign on.

“The work you are doing here is transforming,” said Sarah Fox, director of advocacy for the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.

Fox said rehousing and providing support services to formerly homeless people saves about 70 percent of the cost of the alternatives — shelters, hospitals and prisons.

Since 2015 statewide, 981 individuals “in deep need” were housed, including 63 in southeastern Connecticut and 24 in northeastern Connecticut.

“On the ground, you're getting it done,” Fox said. “You know who the people are and what are their needs.”

One of them was Darren McNair, 48, of Norwich.

McNair told the audience that he has been housed for the past six months after having been homeless “off and on” for the past nine years. He said it started when he got divorced from his wife and three children after he couldn't afford to take care of them.

McNair said he tried unsuccessfully to find housing in the past, first with help from local agencies and then on his own. But when he lost his jobs, he was evicted from apartments and back on the street.

Now, he is disabled and living in a Reliance House facility on Elizabeth Street in Norwich. His two sons and one daughter are in their 20s.

“They're proud of me,” he said. “Everything is going well.”

c.bessette@theday.com