• Protect the homeless crisis response system. Maintain funding for the Housing/Homeless Services Line item in the Department of Social Services Budget. The Department of Social Services has proposed cuts to the Children in Shelters program (which provides child care assistance to families attempting to get out of shelter); and cuts to Connecticut’s Homelessness Management Information System, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development-mandated system which collects data from state funded shelters, transitional and permanent support housing. This line also includes operating funds for homeless and domestic violence shelters, residences for persons with AIDS, rental assistance, security deposit guarantees, and homelessness prevention interventions.  
   
• Expand the number of state-funded rental assistance certificates. Housing subsidies are the single most effective intervention to prevent and end family homelessness.  Recent studies show that half of federal subsidies go to elderly and disabled people, thereby exacerbating the need for vouchers for homeless, low-income and working families. The rental assistance program (RAP) is only serving approximately 2,776 Connecticut households, and about 2,000 more are on the waiting list which is closed.
   
• Invest in new supportive housing and save state dollars. Supportive housing is a proven, cost-effective solution to long term homelessness that matches supportive services with affordable housing. Investing state dollars in supportive housing for frequent users of expensive state services reduces the number of people who rely on more costly emergency and crisis services and saves money. 
   
• Preserve and revitalize the state public housing portfolio. It is critical to preserve and upgrade our current affordable housing infrastructure and to build new affordable housing units for elderly, disabled and very low-income families.  Governor Malloy’s proposal would provide $30 million in bond funds and $1.5 million in project-based rental assistance per year over ten years to transform their current portfolio, affecting potentially more than 14,000 public housing units.  This is especially critical at a time when Congress is proposing reducing federal housing resources.
   
• Increase economic security among Connecticut’s poorest residents by:
  • Extending cash assistance time limits to allow parents to complete job training and education programs.
  • Increasing investments in the youth employment program to help to build a workforce pipeline, and preventing housing crises and homelessness among youth, a growing sector. 
  • Building employability of low-skill adults through paid work experience combined with education, training, transportation and child care assistance.

The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness seeks to prevent and end homelessness in Connecticut.  For more information, contact Lisa P. Sementilli, Deputy Director.

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Educational opportunity, stable employment and stable housing are all closely related. Housing development and rehabilitation creates jobs, particularly jobs in the construction and service industries. According to the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, for every $75 million invested in Connecticut housing, 800 to 2,600 jobs are created, depending on how it’s spent or used to leverage other investment.

In Connecticut, inadequate income and high cost of living are the two most significant contributors to homelessness. Affordable housing provides security for working poor households, while job training and education programs develop skills needed for steady employment and more income. Here are some state policy options already in play in Connecticut....read the full story.

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Our 2012 Legislative Drop-in Note is now available. Find your Legislator and drop them a note today.

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 Rental assistance prevents homelessness by assisting families who cannot afford housing in Connecticut's high rent market.

• Fewer than 3,000 Connecticut households are served by the rental assistance program (RAP). About another 2,000 are on the waiting list.
• The cost of emergency shelter in Connecticut is more than $2,000 per month for a family of three. This is twice the fair market rent for a two-bedroo apartment in most of our state.

Ready to take action? Print and mail this informational post card to your legislator today.

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The President released his fiscal year (FY) 2013 Budget Proposal, which included a proposed funding level of $2.231 billion for HUD’s McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Grants – 17 percent higher than the final FY 2012 level. The $2.231 billion would include:

• $286 million for the Emergency Solutions Grant (ESG) program;
• $5 million for the Rural Housing Stability Assistance program; and
• $1.94 billion for the Continuum of Care program, including:
  • Renewing existing projects;
  • $8 million for HMIS; and
  • $22 million for new projects and CoC planning.

Congress will also hold hearings on the proposal and will begin drafting its own appropriations proposals. The National Alliance to End Homelessness will kick off the FY 2013 McKinney Appropriations Campaign with a massive letter-writing effort to Members of Congress urging their support for the Administration’s request. We hope you will participate!

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