CT Governor Announces Record Drop in Homelessness

On May 15, CT Governor Dannel Malloy addressed the 400+ attendees at the CT Coalition to End Homelessness’ annual training institute. He brought good news — the 2018 point-in-time count confirms that the state’s recent efforts to reduce homelessness and increase access to housing are working.

The point-in-time count takes place during the last week of January and involves outreach workers and volunteers in counting how many people are in emergency shelters/transitional housing and the number of people who appear to be living in places not meant for human habitation.

This was the fifth year in a row that the point-in-time count identified fewer homeless persons than in the year prior. “We’re doing something in Connecticut that many thought would never be possible – we are on a path towards ending homelessness,” Governor Malloy said. “The results of the latest point-in-time count show that homelessness in Connecticut is at a record low thanks to our continued investments in affordable housing, as well as the tremendous efforts of our nonprofit partners.”

Some of the facts uncovered in the count include:

• the total homeless population has decreased by 25 percent since 2007;
• the number of individuals experiencing chronic homelessness has decreased 69 percent since 2014, and 15 percent since 2017;
• nearly 75 percent of those considered chronically homeless were in the process of securing permanent housing;
• the number of families experiencing homelessness decreased by 6 percent since 2017, with no identified unsheltered families.

Things that are working well in the state include:

Single Source of Access — Anyone experiencing a housing emergency can call 211 and be connected to an intake counselor who can help callers problem-solve and also direct them to state resources for housing, food, addiction services and more.

Coordinated Access Networks — All intake workers have access to a statewide database of those experiencing homelessness. This keeps callers from having to repeat their stories and allows intake workers to see the latest information on every the case.

Rapid Rehousing — This prevents open-ended shelter stays by helping people address the underlying problems that may have contributed to their homelessness. A combination of limited-time rental assistance plus referrals to employment services or mental health care (for example) can help return people to housing stability.

Emergency Financial Assistance — Many towns have small budgets to assist people with a large unplanned expense that, if not paid, could lead to the loss of housing — for example a car repair that prevents the breadwinner from getting to work.

We’re proud of the work all our partners do every day to apply smart, cost-effective, and compassionate solutions for residents with housing difficulties. You keep Connecticut on the cutting edge of solving homelessness.

L to r are: Governor Malloy and outgoing CCEH Executive Director Lisa Tepper Bates.