Every winter, as temperatures drop, we’re reminded of the urgent need for shelter and warmth for everyone in our community. This year, the urgency is greater than ever, with over 900 Connecticut residents finding themselves without shelter.
The situation underscores a critical need for reliable and consistent funding to ensure that warming centers and shelters have the capacity to protect every individual facing homelessness.
At the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH), we’ve seen what’s possible when resources are available. During the pandemic, CARES Act funding allowed us to meet the increased needs of our community, helping to keep thousands of Connecticut residents safe and supported. However, when this one-time funding ended, our state faced a stark reality: losing 60 full-time positions critical to our work. These are not just jobs; they are lifelines for those experiencing homelessness.
As we look ahead, there’s a potential silver lining with allocating remaining ARPA funds towards homelessness and housing. Yet, this is a temporary solution. What happens when the funding cliff arrives in September 2025? We are back at square one, facing the same challenges with reduced capacity to help those in need.
I’m calling on our state legislators and administration to commit $20 million in ongoing, sustained funding for our Homeless Response System. We know how to end homelessness. We have a network of providers and partners across Connecticut ready to do the work. What we lack is the consistent financial support to make lasting change.
Our legislative agenda aims to address this gap. It’s not just about providing shelter during the cold months. It’s about ensuring our frontline workers, those who serve as the backbone of our response system, are compensated fairly so they, too, do not fall into the cycle of housing insecurity.
But more than funding, this is about acknowledging the humanity of every person struggling with homelessness. It’s about recognizing that with the right support, we can offer a path to stability and hope. It’s about choosing to invest in solutions that lift our entire community.
As we move forward, I urge everyone to consider the impact of their actions and decisions. To our elected officials: the choices you make can either propel us toward a future where homelessness is rare and brief or leave us scrambling to manage a crisis that deepens each year. To our community: your voice matters. Advocate for policies and funding that support our most vulnerable.
Together, with sustained investment and collective action, we can end homelessness in Connecticut. Let’s not wait for another cold winter to remind us of the urgency of this issue. The time to act is now.
Sarah Fox is CEO of The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness.