by Hudson Kamphausen
HARTFORD, CT – A bipartisan group of over a dozen lawmakers united in a call for increased funding for Connecticut’s homelessness response system. This plea comes at a time when the governor and legislative leaders express doubts about accommodating requests for additional funding in the state’s budget.
The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness reiterated the urgent need for extra resources Monday, as the number of unhoused individuals continues to rise, and many struggle to access shelters that are already stretched thin in terms of resources. They are urging for an annual allocation of an additional $20 million to enhance cold-weather assistance and fortify shelter outreach, among other essential initiatives.
Several lawmakers joined this call for increased state resources just two days before the commencement of the legislative session and the unveiling of the governor’s proposed budget adjustments.
“The reason we don’t have people transitioning out of our shelters is because we do not have affordable housing available in our state,” Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw, D-Avon, who co-chairs the Planning and Development Committee said.
Kavros Degraw said that homelessness in the state has risen 14% since 2021, and added that there are over 4,000 currently in homeless shelters, as well as more than 800 people in the state that are currently sleeping in alternative spaces (cars, camps, etc.).
After almost a decade of declining numbers, Connecticut has witnessed a surge in homelessness over the past two years. Nearly 4,000 people are currently in homeless shelters, with approximately 800 living without shelter—on the streets, in cars, or in makeshift encampments, according to Kavros DeGraw.
The coalition’s funding proposal includes $5 million for cold-weather shelters, $7.4 million to increase the salaries of homelessness response system staff, $3.6 million to prevent people from falling into homelessness, $2 million to improve system performance statewide, and $2 million in flexible funding to assist individuals in transitioning from homelessness to stable housing.
During cold weather, additional shelter beds are necessary to ensure people’s safety, placing added pressure on underpaid staff who provide support to the homeless population. It is estimated that over 80% of those working in homelessness response earn wages below what is required to afford a one-bedroom apartment in Connecticut.
Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, co-chair of the Human Services Committee, emphasized the need to invest in these services while ensuring that all individuals, including those caring for the homeless, receive a living wage.
Sarah Fox, CEO of the Coalition to End Homelessness, said that it is impossible to distinguish homelessness from the unaffordable cost of living. Rent, she said, has gone up 30% in the last 15 years. The cost of living, and of housing, some of the legislators said, is too high. Eighty-two percent of homelessness responders, Gilchrest, said, make less than what is needed to afford a one bedroom apartment.
Sed. Saud Anwar, D-South Windsor, said that the current state of homelessness is a “policy failure,” and that there needs to be line items on the budget for homelessness services.
Representatives from both sides of the aisle were present at the event, and said they believe the issue of homelessness, and what they consider a lack of funding, to be a serious issue. A few of those mentioned Connecticut’s good economic standing among reasons why there should not be a lack of funding.
Rep. Jay Case, R-Torrington, echoed Fox’s and Gilchrest’s comments about the cost of living, and said that Connecticut is not affordable for many people.
Sen. Lisa Seminara, R-Simsbury, said Monday that the issue of funding homeless prevention needs to be prioritized.
However, fulfilling this funding request may prove challenging, as the state legislature implemented fiscal guardrails in 2017 to control spending and eliminate budget deficits in state finances.