Connecticut is facing a surge in homelessness, with advocates and officials reporting that the state’s homeless services system is struggling to keep up with demand. Over the past two months, more than a dozen people are believed to have died due to cold weather, according to state officials.
Sarah Fox, chief executive officer of the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness, said, “The homeless response system was never built to respond to the level of need we are facing today. We don’t have the resources – whether the housing resources or provider resources – to meet the need.” She pointed out that there has been a 45% increase in the unhoused population in Connecticut and noted that people are staying longer in shelters due to a lack of affordable housing options.
Fox added, “We are desperately in need of housing to meet every level of income.”
A shortage of affordable rentals for low-income residents is making it difficult for people experiencing homelessness to find stable housing. Although state legislators passed a bill last session intended to boost housing availability, Governor Ned Lamont vetoed it after opposition from suburban communities. A revised version was later signed into law during a special session, but critics argue it will not provide immediate relief.
State Rep. Jillian Gilchrest said she was pleased that some progress had been made on housing legislation but acknowledged its limitations. “There are certain elements where we are trying to make large inroads and we experience these setbacks,” she said. “Either the state has to have the will to want to make these changes or it is going to take a lot longer than we all want and unfortunately the repercussions are people are dying on the streets.”
From November 1 through December 29, there were 15 deaths believed related to cold weather conditions; at least five involved individuals experiencing homelessness, according to data from the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner. Nine cases remain under investigation.
Currently, 5,860 people in Connecticut are actively experiencing homelessness; about 2,200 do not have shelter. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness reports that shelters and soup kitchens have reached capacity and must turn away one out of every five people seeking help.
Matthew Morgan, executive director of Journey Home—a group coordinating efforts against homelessness in Connecticut’s Capital Region—said: “We don’t have enough housing, services and resources to get people out of homelessness and stabilized in the community whether that is long term or short-term assistance. We have 20% of what we need to make that flow happen so that the system is not clogged.”
Jennifer Paradis, executive director at Beth-El Center in Milford, described long wait times for shelter placement through emergency hotlines such as 211: “It takes a long time, or more than immediate, to get a call in to 211 and to get a CAN (Coordinated Access Network) assessment… If you are somebody who needs shelter, it can take several months… There is not enough affordable housing stock and subsidies…”
Paradis stated this winter marks one of the worst periods she has seen during her two decades working with unhoused populations: “Folks are seeing the long-term impacts of many years of disinvestment… The unsheltered homeless numbers are incredibly concerning. There is a systematic disinvestment and underinvestment in these services.”
Rep. Eleni Kavros DeGraw echoed concerns about insufficient transitional housing: “People are living and working two jobs in a shelter… Every year we fight for the bare minimum of dollars so people are not out in the cold.” She also questioned whether current funding levels—including $4.5 million allocated by Gov. Lamont for emergency shelters—are sufficient.
“We have to be able to fund appropriately places that will get people off the street and start to get them back to what a normal life would be,” DeGraw said.
State Sen. Saud Anwar highlighted issues with accessing support through 211: “It is very real… I have seen the people struggling… It is painful we are not releasing funds for 211…” He called for broader systemic changes.
Lisa Tepper Bates from United Way’s 211 program emphasized its role as an entry point rather than an entire solution: “Our housing team is there … but we are not the entirety of the system so … we need better resourcing … so we are not facing what we are facing today: Unacceptably high number of people going without shelter.”
Advocates say no single solution exists; they urge more preventive measures as well as expanded access both through new construction and increased subsidies for those on limited incomes.
Fox suggested greater collaboration between agencies along with flexible funding models tailored regionally could help address local needs more effectively; she also cited Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam’s call for municipalities’ greater involvement.
Morgan mentioned programs like Compassionate Connections—which helps move encampment residents into subsidized homes—as successful but currently under-resourced: “I would say that people should not be criminalized for experiencing homelessness.” He expressed hope Connecticut might eventually declare housing as a human right by law.
Paradis stressed investment across all parts of homeless services along with stronger tenant protections such as fair rent commissions and just cause eviction standards.
DeGraw visited United Way’s offices recently alongside other lawmakers including Anwar, Rep. Kathy Kennedy, Sen. Matt Lesser and Gilchrest; she raised concerns about staffing shortages at critical points like hotline centers while reiterating worries over overall funding sufficiency: “My concern is making sure people are getting help in a timely fashion.”
Rep. Jay Case advocated shifting focus from temporary solutions toward permanent supportive options: “We don’t need the revolving door of shelters… We need stability…”
Gov. Lamont has committed $6.9 million from reserve funds established by lawmakers earlier this year aimed at mitigating losses among federally subsidized programs.
