CT CAN End Homelessness Digest | | |
This digest serves as a monthly update of CT CAN End Homelessness, including Committee and Sub-Committee Reports, upcoming meetings and events, and other relevant information about our state's homeless response effort.
Your input and participation are what make CT CAN End Homelessness possible. All of our meetings are open to the public. Please join us at a meeting, invite your colleagues, or share this with your networks. Thank you for all you do, and together, we will end homelessness in Connecticut.
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Dear CT CAN End Homelessness Campaign partners,
As we move through the holiday season and close out the year, I’m holding two truths at once: deep gratitude for the people who make this system work every day and a profound urgency about what our communities across Connecticut are facing right now.
This year, we’ve lost far too many of our neighbors to the cold because we didn’t have enough capacity to bring people indoors in time. These were preventable deaths. And behind each loss is a person—someone’s family member, friend, coworker, and neighbor—who deserved warmth, safety, and a home.
So yes, this is a season for reflection. But it must also be a season for action.
What we’ve built together this year
Even amid enormous strain, the CT CAN End Homelessness Campaign has gained meaningful momentum. Together, we’ve strengthened coordination, deepened partnerships, and sharpened a shared commitment: Connecticut must have a homelessness response system that is resourced to prevent, respond, and house our neighbors without leaving anyone outside, ever.
What we’re up against
Across the state, people are suffering without housing, without adequate supports, and too often without a safe place to go when the temperature drops. Outreach teams are doing extraordinary work. Shelters are stretched beyond capacity. Providers are making impossible decisions in the face of rising need and limited resources.
The hard truth is this: compassion without capacity is not a plan. And right now, Connecticut’s capacity is not meeting the moment.
Gratitude for the people doing the work
To frontline staff, outreach workers, shelter teams, housing navigators, case managers, crisis responders, and every provider and partner: thank you. You are showing up in the hardest conditions, with humanity and persistence, day after day. You are the backbone of this work and we see you.
Our shared call, right now
This is the moment to align across state and local government, providers, philanthropy, health systems, business leaders, and community members—around one clear standard:
No one in Connecticut should be left out in the cold.
And as we push forward, I also want to name something simple but essential: we need you in this work for the long haul. If you can, take a breath. Tend to your own wellbeing. Make space, however small, to rest and reset. The work ahead will demand clarity, stamina, and community, and we will meet it best if we care for ourselves and each other along the way.
The CT CAN End Homelessness Campaign is committed to building a system that prevents homelessness when possible, responds quickly when crises happen, and connects people to permanent housing with the supports they need to stay there.
Thank you for standing with us and for standing with our neighbors. We enter the new year committed, prepared, and together.
With gratitude and resolve,
Sarah Fox
Chief Executive Officer
Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
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Steering Committee Updates:
At the most recent Steering Committee meeting, Caitlin Peruccio, Legislative Counsel and Senior Policy Advisor to Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, joined virtually to provide updates and guidance on navigating the NOFO process.
The committee approved the three representatives nominated across all seven CANs as voting members of the Steering Committee. These representatives will coordinate and present one unified vote per region, reflecting consensus among local stakeholders and each CAN’s collective position.
The Coordinated Entry and Outreach Subcommittee shared updates on warming centers and regional capacity concerns, while the Policy and Advocacy group provided an overview of current federal and statewide advocacy efforts, including a debrief on recent legislative roundtables.
Members also discussed ways to use system resources more strategically throughout the year, not only during peak demand periods. The meeting concluded with Steering Committee Co-Chairs inviting feedback on engagement styles and meeting facilitation to ensure all members feel comfortable participating and contributing fully.
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Coordinated Entry and Outreach Committee Updates:
At the most recent meeting, the Coordinated Entry and Outreach Subcommittee reviewed cold weather response efforts statewide. Regions reported that warming centers and seasonal shelters are already near or at capacity for both individuals and families, though several new cold weather sites have recently opened or are preparing to open. The committee emphasized the need for all CANs to upload cold weather materials to Civic Roundtable, noting that only two regions have done so to date. The Statewide Warming Center List has been finalized and shared with 211.
The Statewide Turnaway Tracker is now active, and CANs are strongly encouraged to use it to document when people cannot access shelter due to capacity constraints. This data will support a clearer understanding of statewide capacity and funding needs. The Engage app will also be used to support documentation and coordination. Additionally, the committee formed a Statewide Extreme Weather Ad-Hoc Committee to ensure a coordinated and responsive system during extreme weather events.
The group also advanced work on previously identified goals and strategies:
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Improving Access to Identification: Continued efforts are underway to strengthen coordination with the DMV, addressing inconsistencies across locations, new fee waiver letter requirements, and duplicate ID charges. Strategies discussed include clearer communication channels, onsite DMV visits, and collaboration with DMV outreach staff, with follow-up continuing into January.
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Clarifying Roles Within CAN Workflow: The committee identified ongoing confusion around when clients should be supported by Diversion, Navigation, or Outreach. Key needs include clearer role definitions across HUBs, Diversion, Navigation, and Outreach; standardized scripts and messaging; guidance on documentation and warm transfers; improved visibility of case notes and shared documents; and cross-training opportunities.
- Supporting Elderly Clients Through Regional Coordination: To reduce homelessness among older adults, participants discussed strengthening regional case conferencing, building relationships with assisted living facilities, addressing medication-related placement barriers, forming municipal housing partnerships, and resolving storage challenges. To support this work, CCEH will host an Elders in Housing Programs training with the CT Departments of Social Services and Mental Health and Addiction Services on January 14th and 15th.
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Policy & Advocacy Updates:
Late last month, HUD announced a new Continuum of Care (CoC) Notice of Funding Opportunity that would have capped funding for Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) and Rapid Rehousing (RRH) at 30%, putting 6,500 people at risk of losing their homes and services. Communities raised the alarm at legislative roundtables and in letters to elected officials, and Connecticut Attorney General Tong joined one of two lawsuits to block the NoFO.
As a result of national advocacy and legal action, HUD rescinded the NoFO and plans to reissue it soon. However, existing CoC contracts begin expiring in January 2026, creating a funding cliff that could push thousands of people in PSH and RRH back into homelessness.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro, Governor Ned Lamont, Mayor Justin Elicker, and DOH Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno held a press conference calling on HUD and Congress to protect FY 2025 CoC funding and announcing $6.8 million in state gap funding to protect housing and services from January - June 2026.
Appreciation for urgent leadership and what comes next
We are grateful to Governor Lamont and legislative leaders for setting aside $6.8 million in housing and supportive services through the $500 million Emergency Fund to help ensure that none of our neighbors in Continuum of Care housing lose their homes due to federal funding lapses or potential cuts.
We are also grateful to the CT Federal Delegation, Lamont Administration, Attorney General Tong, and our legislative leaders for understanding the seriousness of this moment and for standing with us as we weather the CoC funding crisis ahead. Your partnership is helping protect thousands of Connecticut residents from losing their homes because of federal disruption.
We have strong signals of support for the additional $40 million needed across the calendar year to sustain housing and services as we manage this federal uncertainty. We will continue working closely with the Administration and the General Assembly to translate that support into real stability for residents and providers—because stability is what prevents trauma, preserves communities, and saves lives.
The longer-term risk
This gap funding request is separate from the broader, long-term risk to Connecticut’s federal funding. Depending on the outcome of the NOFO awards, the state could face a permanent annual loss of federal housing and homelessness funding. That loss could be as high as the full $98.2 million currently funded through the CoC program, but is more likely to be closer to $70 million—the competitive portion of our HUD CoC funding that is most at risk under the current federal approach.
Final Legislative Roundtables
Roundtables conclude in New Haven on Friday, and the Committee will be considering the feedback from legislators, community members, and partners in the legislative agenda-setting process. You can register to participate in Committee meetings here – all are welcome!
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Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Updates:
The Youth and Young Adult (YYA) Subcommittee met on December 9, 2025 to review federal policy updates, system impacts, equity-centered work, and advocacy priorities. Members discussed potential CoC NOFO changes, including a possible HUD cap of 30% on permanent housing funding, which could significantly impact Connecticut, where approximately 80% of CoC funding supports PSH and RRH. A federal government shutdown is delaying NOFO timelines, and advocacy and planning toolkits are available to support agencies.
Connecticut Community Housing shared updates on the NEH tool and coordination with DSS regarding new work requirements and data implications, with interagency meetings underway. Frontline staff reported increasing burnout and system-wide stress, while youth money management programs continue to show positive outcomes in financial stability and housing retention. The Court Support Services Division (CSSD) highlighted juvenile probation’s role in supporting unhoused and unstably housed youth.
The subcommittee identified 2026 legislative priorities, including adding McKinney-Vento protections to Connecticut statute, securing funding to remove RRH barriers such as deposits and documentation, and increasing engagement with legislators and system partners.
Members advanced Equity-Centered Community Design work by reviewing Youth & Young Adult Partnership Statements, adopting the “Oops, Ouch, Whoa” framework for inclusive communication, discussing identity-first versus person-first language, and reviewing Tuckman’s stages of group development, identifying the group as between Forming and Storming.
The group discussed institutional oppression and liberated gatekeeping, identifying systemic barriers impacting trans and queer youth, BIPOC youth, youth with disabilities, undocumented youth, justice-involved youth, former foster youth, and youth in poverty. Healthcare barriers included limited Medicaid access, appointment delays, restricted gender-affirming care, medication access issues, mental health stigma, HIPAA violations, and non-inclusive care, with peer mental health workers noted as a promising practice. Liberated gatekeeping emphasized youth as equal decision-makers, transparency, challenging white-dominant norms, and shared power.
Next steps include planning meetings with DSS and state agencies, documenting frontline staff and healthcare barriers for policy recommendations, tracking youth money management outcomes, continuing system mapping and gap analysis (including nonprofits and immigration/refugee organizations), updating community agreements to include “Oops, Ouch, Whoa,” and beginning the Empathize (data collection) phase of the Equity-Centered Community Design framework.
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Exit Updates:
The Exit Subcommittee is working to launch a statewide Landlord Engagement Subgroup, bringing together landlord engagement specialists from all CANs to share regional knowledge, housing opportunities, and community resources. This collaboration aims to expand housing placement options and create more pathways to permanent housing for individuals experiencing unsheltered homelessness.
To support ongoing collaboration, a collection space has been created in the Exit Subcommittee Civic Roundtable group for sharing documents, tools, and resource information. Strengthening our shared understanding of housing options across the state increases our collective ability to connect participants to communities where they can thrive.
In addition, the Exit Subcommittee continues its work on the Recidivism Prevention Assessment, with further updates to come.
| | Join the Civic Roundtable! | | Civic Roundtable is a collaboration platform to increase communication and engagement within CT CAN End Homelessness. It contains committee agendas, meeting minutes, resources, and discussions. If you would like to learn more about the work of CT CAN End Homelessness's committees, please join us here. | | For any inquiries, insights, or further discussion, contact Amber Freeman at afreeman@cceh.org | | These sessions are a space for community members to contribute to achieving our goal of eliminating homelessness. Your participation enriches our open dialogues and collective efforts to develop lasting solutions. | | |
Exit Subcommittee
The purpose of the Exit Subcommittee is to increase exits to housing, decrease the length of time homelessness, and reduce returns to homelessness.
Date: January 9, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
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Youth and Young Adult Subcommittee
The Policy & Advocacy Committee leads the statewide advocacy efforts of the Homeless Response System throughout the calendar year.
Date: January 13, 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM
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Policy and Advocacy Subcommittee
The Policy & Advocacy Committee leads the statewide advocacy efforts of the Homeless Response System throughout the calendar year.
Date: January 20, 1:00 - 2:30 PM
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Coordinated Entry and Outreach Subcommittee
The purpose of the Entry Subcommittee is to improve coordinated entry and to provide households access to appropriate services and shelter quickly. The purpose of the Outreach and Engagement Subcommittee is to identify, engage, and house all unsheltered individuals and families using a coordinated approach across the state
Date: January 22, 12:00 - 1:00 PM
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