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The average amount of money that Connecticut nonprofits distribute to homeless people has increased by 14% since 2024, according to the state’s Homeless Management Information System.

Nonprofits, such as those that get federal money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development, are distributing rent assistance payments that are 14% higher than in 2024 and 49% higher than in 2020 to keep pace with rental costs. Now, the average rental subsidy given across all Connecticut regions is over $1,000.

The annual Point-In-Time Count of Homelessness report, which referenced the data, said, “these agencies that provide rental subsidies … continue to face an uphill battle trying to bridge the gap from what someone can afford versus how much they can subsidize. Also there continues to be a struggle for the providers to find units whose rents are within the FMR [Fair Market Rents] and/or reasonable, thus further draining the pool of available and acceptable units.”

Connecticut ranked eighth-highest in the nation in 2024 for the cost of rental housing.

Homeless people who are employed average $1,800 in earnings a month. Those with some employment and other income, such as social security, average $1,400 a month.

The annual report, which was conducted by Nutmeg Consulting, also showed an increase in the number of homeless people in Connecticut.

Angela is CT Mirror’s first AI Data Reporter / Product Developer. She is focused on developing AI methods to improve the CT Mirror’s research and reporting, using categorization, text-parsing, and other emerging technologies to provide even wider news coverage across the state of Connecticut. After fact-checking for CNN, Angela produced polls for the AP-NORC Center and worked on the 2024 VoteCast election model. She holds a B.A from Harvard and is originally from London, England.