New London — With housing out of reach for more and more local residents, about 200 people walked 1.6 miles around downtown Sunday for the 15th annual Walk to End Homelessness.

Annah Perch, development manager at the the Homeless Hospitality Center and coordinator of the walk, said the center is the largest emergency center for adults facing homelessness in the region and the walk is their "biggest event of the year."

Cathy Zall, the center's executive director, said she has not seen a significant increase in homelessness since the COVID-19 pandemic, but with the eviction moratorium coming to a close, she is concerned with a possible rise in demand.

"We're struggling most with the housing market," Zall said. "It is much less affordable than before."

With fewer places the center's clients can live, Zall said it affects how quickly they can exit homelessness and enter into housing.

Since it opened about 15 years ago, the Homeless Hospitality Center has collaborated with Connecticut College's Holleran Center for Community Action to plan an annual walk to raise awareness about homelessness in the community and raise funds for the hospitality center's programs.

Jennifer Rector, a housing coordinator at the center, said the rapid rehousing program assists participants with rent for a duration of three months or more, depending on the case, "to get them back on their feet."

Perch said the center is also working to open a resource center to support clients with different resources so they can remain housed or attain home ownership.

At the event Sunday, Zall recognized Rebecca McCue from the Holleran Center for helping start the walk years ago and for supporting it ever since.

McCue said it started as a small group and has grown into a community-wide event, raising more every year to support the hospitality center.

Speaking as a special guest, Jose Rodriguez said he was a former client from the center, losing his wife while they were housed there. He said the center helped him get "on the right track."

"We need places like the shelter," Rodriguez said. "I'm really glad they were there."

Perch said the walk had a number of generous sponsors this year with Mohegan Sun giving the largest donation. Various community organizations were also present at the walk, including the Community Health Center, the Immigration Advocacy Support Center, the Public Library of New London and Griffin Health.

Hannah Gonzalez was one of many Connecticut College students at the walk. Gonzalez, a junior enrolled in the Holleran Center's Program in Community Action, said she and others helped the center plan the walk. Gonzalez said she took the walk as an opportunity to connect with the community.

"There's often a disconnect between the college and the community," she said. "I came to bridge that gap."

Having received support from the hospitality center seven years ago, Caryn Giglio came to support and join the walk. Giglio said she is a survivor of homelessness and now, years later, she is looking forward to attending nursing school.

"I'm giving back," said Giglio. "I came to show my appreciation and say thanks."

j.vazquez@theday.com