Action Alert:


Preserve the Department of Housing

Democrat and Republican legislative budgets have proposed consolidating the Department of Housing into DECD for $197,000 savings.

Tell Legislative Leadership: The Department of Housing brings clear value to Connecticut. DOH’s targeted investments and leadership have been central to our success to date. The $197,000 saved by consolidating DOH is far outweighed by the value the state will lose.


Preserve Critical Budget Items

Tell Legislative Leadership:

  • Hello, my name is _________ and I am a (constituent, homeless service provider, advocate, etc.) I Support Funding for Critical Housing and Homelessness Services and Supports.

  • We are making important progress in Connecticut: we’ve had four years in a row of declining homelessness in our state. Ending homelessness saves lives, saves public funds, and improves our communities.

  • I am calling today to ask (Senator __, or Representative ___) to preserve the DOH Housing and Homelessness line item at $74M, the DMHAS Housing Supports and Services line item at $23M, and the Community Investment Act funds at DOH for the Coordinated Access Networks.

  • DOH Housing and Homelessness funds are critical to move people in from homelessness to housing.

  • DMHAS funds housing-focused case management services that helps chronically homeless people to secure and maintain housing. This stops them from cycling through expensive public systems like emergency services, hospitals, and jails.


Call Now

Democratic Leadership


Republican Leadership


Senator Martin Looney
President Pro Temp
860-240-8614 Looney@senatedems.ct.gov
Senator Len Fasano
President Pro Temp
860-240-8871 Len.Fasano@cga.ct.gov
Senator Bob Duff
Senate Majority Leader
860-240-0414 Duff@senatedems.ct.gov
Senator Kevin Witkos
Deputy President Pro Tempore)
860-240-0436 Kevin.Witkos@cga.ct.gov
Representative Joe Aresimowicz
Speaker of the House
860-240-8535 Joe.Aresimowicz@cga.ct.gov
Representative Themis Klarides
House Minority Leader
860-240-8384 Themis.Klarides@housegop.ct.gov
Representative Matt Rider
House Majority Leader
860-240-8489 Matthew.Ritter@cga.ct.gov

 


Preserve the Department of Housing

Consolidating departments and disbanding the Department of Housing would negatively impact our ability to maximize the impact of available resources and to continue to drive down homelessness in Connecticut. Our achievements in ending this expensive, avoidable problem would not have happened without the targeted investments and leadership of the DOH.

KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS

  • Connecticut was the first state in the nation to end chronic veteran homelessness, and one of the first two states to end homelessness among all veterans.

  • Connecticut housed over 1,414 chronically homeless individuals since January 2015.

  • Connecticut has seen four years in a row of declining annual homelessness – a decrease of 29% between 2012 and 2016.

  • Preserved, rehabilitated, and/or created 21,000 housing units, over 90% affordable housing, in partnership with the CT Housing Finance Authority.

  • Secured $500 million in federal grants through competitive applications since 2013.

PREVENTING AND ENDING HOMELESSNESS SAVES THE STATE MONEY

  • DOH provides focused leadership, coordinates across government agencies, and ensures accountability to maximize the impact of available resources to end homelessness.

  • Public systems, such as emergency services, hospitals and jails, save up to 70% in costs, when those who have experienced long periods of homelessness and live with disabilities are housed with supports.

  • When people have access to stable, affordable housing they are more likely to get and keep a job, maintain a healthy lifestyle, and acheive self-sufficiency.

AFFORDABLE HOUSING IS AN INVESTMENT IN CONNECTICUT

  • Housing development and housing services drive 15.24% of Connecticut’s domestic product.

  • Connecticut has generated $119 million in state revenue and $1.8 billion in total economic activity through affordable housing production.

  • Private investment in housing development has exceeded $2 billion since 2013.

  • Development of 100 multifamily units generates in a year, $7M in local income, $710K in taxes and other local government revenue, and 133 local jobs, within typical U.S metropolitan areas.

  • CT is the sixth most expensive state for housing – we need more safe and affordable housing for our teachers, fire fighters, small business owners and others who otherwise would be housing insecure.

For more information contact Cindy Dubuque at cindy@pschousing.org or Sarah Fox at sfox@cceh.org