Gov. Ned Lamont, joined by several state lawmakers, officials and homelessness advocates, announced the release of $4.5 million in funding for cold weather emergency shelters, and an additional $3.5 million in funds to homeless hubs.
“This isn’t just an investment, this is a lifeline,” said Julian Pierce, Deputy Commissioner of the Department of Housing (DOH). “Last winter alone, DOH funding helped nearly 5,000 individuals find refuge from the cold. This year, we’re doing it again, because no one in Connecticut should have to sleep outside in freezing temperatures.”
According to Pierce, homeless hub funding would go to 11 nonprofit organizations operating 14 hubs across the state. He described the hubs as “spaces where people experiencing housing instability can connect with services, build a plan and start their journey towards stability.”
The announcement was made in front of the Journey Home in West Hartford, a non-profit organization that connects homeless people and people at risk of homelessness to shelters and resources. According to Journey Home’s Executive Director, Matthew Morgan, the organization coordinates 10 separate cold-weather shelters across the Capitol region. Additionally, Journey Home runs a furniture bank, where newly homed people can find used furniture for free, and is opening a thrift store right next door.
Despite the organization’s recent accomplishments, Morgan said that he and the staff of the cold-weather shelters “have been growing very concerned about the coming winter months.”
“Last year, our partner agencies were not able to serve everybody in shelter who needed it,” said Morgan. “In fact, on 400 different occasions, they had staff who had to tell people, ‘I’m sorry, there’s no more space in our facility, and we don’t have any alternatives for you.'”
Morgan said that last winter, one person who was turned away ended up losing their legs to frostbite, and several others died. Morgan noted that the expiration of ARPA funds necessitated further investment from the state, and expressed gratitude towards today’s funding release. In addition to the end of ARPA, speakers also noted the impact federal cuts would have on the state’s ability to combat homelessness.
“The federal cuts are here, and they’re going to get worse; we have a president who is cutting the social safety net as we speak,” said Sen. Derek Slap (D-West Hartford), who noted the president’s recent LIHEAP layoffs. “We are going to have to step up. We’re going to be in special session, hopefully early next month, and I hope that we address basic human needs.”
Lamont also took aim at the federal government, calling the current shutdown a “battle about how much you’re going to jack up people’s health insurance costs.” Both gave different examples of the state’s recent efforts to combat homelessness. Slap highlighted the state’s expansion of the Earned Income Tax Credit, and of recent talks to expand the state’s free community college program, saying the legislature is, “trying to address this affordability issue, to make sure nobody has to face homelessness.” Lamont noted yesterday’s authorization of using state funds to cover the state’s SNAP program, as well as efforts to promote affordable housing construction as examples of the state’s anti-homelessness efforts.
“When it comes to homelessness and housing, we’re doing a lot, but we got to do more,” said Lamont.
Lamont said he’d like to see the reintroduction of legislation that would limit the ability of large realty companies from consolidating housing stock and driving up rents, and also said that he’s “having ongoing discussions” on last session’s omnibus housing bill, the subject of next month’s expected special session.
“We’ll get there,” said Lamont.
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