Press Releases
12/19/2016
Gov. Malloy and Congressional Delegation Applaud $44.5 Million in Federal Grants to Help State Reach Goal of Ending Homelessness
(HARTFORD, CT) – Governor Dannel P. Malloy and the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation are applauding an announcement made today from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) that the State of Connecticut will receive approximately $44.5 million in federal grants to help support the state’s goal of ending homelessness.“Over the last several years, with our partners in local, state, and federal organizations, Connecticut has created a system that is successfully working to provide housing when the need arises. These partnerships are helping us ensure that whenever a new episode of homelessness does occur, it is brief and nonrecurring. Ensuring and delivering housing is critical to building stronger communities for everyone, everywhere,” Governor Malloy said. “I want to thank HUD and our local partners for working with our state to ensure these services are available so when one our residents need assistance, it is there for them.”
The grants come under HUD’s Continuum of Care program, which provide critically needed support to local programs on the front lines of serving individuals and families experiencing homelessness.
“Connecticut has led the nation in its efforts to reduce homelessness in our communities. But despite these gains, every night thousands of people in our state will seek refuge in an emergency shelter or fall sleep without a roof over their heads, a heartbreaking number of them children. In a state like ours – and in a country like ours – that is unacceptable,” the members of Connecticut’s Congressional delegation said in a joint statement. “The $44 million in federal grant announced today brings critical additional resources to help Connecticut build on its past success and bring us closer towards achieving the goal of ending homelessness for all.”
“Under Governor Malloy, Connecticut has been recognized as a national leader for its efforts to prevent and end homelessness,” Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) Commissioner Evonne M. Klein said. “It is because of the strong partnerships that have been formed with governmental, non-governmental agencies, and non-profit providers that we have achieved unprecedented investment and success. I thank HUD for recognizing our efforts. This funding will continue to support and allow us to expand on our goal of ending homelessness.”
Among the awards is a brand new allocation totaling almost $1 million dollars for DOH, which will allow Connecticut to build upon its existing infrastructure dedicated to ending homelessness. This is the third year in a row that Connecticut has received new allocations under this funding round. The two new awards that occurred in previous years allowed the state to add approximately 400 new units of permanent supportive housing dedicated towards ending chronic homelessness. This next allocation will allow the state to expand its existing resources, bringing us one step closer to effectively ending homelessness altogether.
Since 2011, DOH – together with the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority – has completed 8,572 affordable units, with another 3,053 under construction and funding in place for approximately 5,200 more affordable units. In total, almost 17,000 units of affordable housing have been created, rehabilitated, or preserved in just the past six years alone. Connecticut has also helped to create another 1,500 market rate units in that same time. These units have come online through joint investments with the private sector and have helped to increase the supply of housing in areas where they would have otherwise not been built.
Earlier this year, Connecticut become one of only three states to have been certified as having effectively ended homelessness among veterans. Connecticut was one of only four states to sign on to the Zero: 2016 initiative, with the goal of ending all chronic homelessness by the end of this year. These additional vouchers will allow the state to expand on the nationally recognized system that was established to combat homelessness.
**On the Web: Complete list of state and local homeless projects awarded funding under HUD’s FY2016 Continuum of Care program grants
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