City to get $5.1M to help combat homelessness

New Haven Register
1/14/2008

HARTFORD (AP) — Gov. M. Jodi Rell announced Sunday that Connecticut will receive grants totaling $26.4 million, including $5,187,485 for New Haven, to continue the state’s efforts to combat homelessness.

The funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development are being awarded to the state Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and to nonprofit agencies throughout the state.

The grants include $2.1 million in new funding and the rest in renewal funding. Rell commended Mental Health and Addiction Services Commissioner Thomas A. Kirk Jr. for his agency’s continuing efforts to address homelessness in the state.

“Reducing homelessness remains an important priority,” Rell said. “Thousands of homeless people in communities across the state with psychiatric and substance abuse problems will benefit from these funds and will have increased opportunities to obtain housing. ... Permanent housing is essential to recovery.”

Grant funds will be allocated to the Bridgeport, Stratford and Fairfield areas in the amount of $3,707,629; Bristol, $348,849; Danbury, $678,204; Hartford, $4,283,022; Middletown/Middlesex County,$774,581; New Britain, $1,059,559; Norwalk/Fairfield County, $1,344,232; Stamford/Greenwich, $1,212,827; Waterbury, $1,298,206; and towns in the Norwich/New London area, $1,398,362.

The remaining $5.1 million will be distributed to other Connecticut towns.

The grants will provide rental subsidies and support for emergency shelters, as well as funding critical to housing support services.