ACTION ALERT: Sign Up to Testify in Support of Homelessness & Housing Priority Legislation!

SUBMIT WRITTEN TESTIMONY TODAY

Appropriations Subcommittee on Health

(Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services)

Today at 2PM, the Appropriations Subcommittee on Health will hear testimony on the Governor's proposed budget adjustments. Our request for funding to Prevent, Respond, and House is at stake -- and written testimony makes a difference. We need strong volume and clear support for these urgently needed funding increases.

Monday, February 23rd | 2PM

ALL MONDAY HEARINGS NOW VIRTUAL DUE TO WEATHER

Submit Written Testimony | Testimony Template

These dollars are not abstract. They fund outreach, case management, supportive housing, and crisis response across Connecticut. At a time of rising homelessness and federal uncertainty, we need resources to bring people inside and keep them housed.

SIGN UP NOW:

TESTIFY IN SUPPORT OF HOUSING, NOT HANDCUFFS & HOUSING PRIORITY BILLS!

Register to testify by 3PM today for the Housing Committee public hearing tomorrow! These bills will help our neighbors, not handcuff them, and reduce homelessness and housing instability.

• Submit Written Testimony
• Testimony Templates
• Fact Sheets

NOTE: END HOMELESSNESS PRESS CONFERENCE ORIGINALLY SCHEDULED FOR 9:15 AM NOW CANCELED DUE TO WEATHER -- HEARING CURRENTLY SCHEDULED TO PROCEED, BUT PLEASE STAY TUNED FOR ANY CHANGES

WHEN: Tuesday, February 24th at 10:00 AM

WHERE: Legislative Office Building, Room #2A, 300 Capitol Ave., Hartford CT 06106

Speak out and submit written testimony on these three bills:

H.B. 5259, An Act Concerning the Education of Homeless Children and Youth

Why It's Important: More than 5,000 Connecticut students are experiencing homelessness, and the federal protections that keep them enrolled, transported, and supported are increasingly uncertain. H.B. 5259 safeguards educational stability by codifying McKinney-Vento rights in state law so students can stay connected to school no matter what happens federally.

H.B. 5260, An Act Prohibiting a Municipality from Imposing a Penalty for the Performance of Certain Activities of Daily Living

Why It's Important: H.B. 5260 would correct the harm done by the Supreme Court in Johnson v. Grants Pass, a decision in 2024 which allows state and municipalities to arrest, ticket, or fine people sheltering in public spaces while unhoused -- even when there is no other option.

S.B. 257 An Act Concerning Evictions for Cause

Why It's Important: In Connecticut, landlords can evict renters by refusing to renew a lease, even if the tenant pays rent on time and does everything else “right”. Broadening Just Cause is a no-cost, effective policy to reduce evictions and provide greater security to tenants which in turn reduces homelessness.

H.B. 5257 An Act Prohibiting a Landlord from Requiring a Security Deposit in Excess of One Month's Rent from Any Tenant. 

Why It's Important: H.B. 5257 would make housing more accessible to everyone, including people who have experienced homelessness trying who are facing cost barriers to renting.

Transportation Committee Hearing

POSTPONED UNITL MARCH 2ND

H.B. 5235, An Act Concerning a Plan and Coordinated Response to Persons Experiencing Homelessness on Property Under the Control of The Department of Transportation.

This bill calls for a coordinated, humane, and housing-focused response when individuals are living on DOT property. We must ensure Connecticut leads with outreach, case management, and housing solutions, not displacement without alternatives.

Your testimony can reinforce the need for collaboration between DOT, outreach providers, municipalities, and the state’s homelessness response system.

Talking Points | Submit Written Testimony

Watch Committee meetings & public hearings

live and recorded on CT-Network (CT-N) or YouTube

If you have any questions or you need help submitting testimony, please contact Katherine Whitney.

Order a Shirt and Show Your Support!

Our goal is to have advocates wear their t-shirts to in a bold statement for change, all session long!

If you haven't ordered and would like to, you can click here to email us and let us know how many of each size your organization would like for upcoming events. Shirts are $20.