Addressing the Housing Crisis

January 13, 2025
Dear Neighbor,

I was among 17 legislators who attended a press conference on the state's housing crisis hosted by my colleague Eleni Kavros DeGraw, chair of the Planning & Development Committee, and housing advocates.

Legislators and the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness are requesting $33.5 million in the next state budget -- annualized and adjusted for inflation for subsequent budgets -- to help solve homelessness in Connecticut.

The funds would be channeled into three priorities: homelessness prevention, crisis response and sustainable housing for people experiencing homelessness.

I unequivocally support the request for the funding and will be doing what I can to have the measure pass.

The numbers are stark. More than 5,000 people are experiencing homelessness in our state, one of the wealthiest in the U.S. A Connecticut 2024 Point-In-Time Count reported a 13% rise in individuals experiencing homelessness from 2023, with 44% of those being children and those over 55.

One unhoused person is unacceptable. To have more than 5,000 people experiencing homelessness – infants, children, seniors -- in our state is unconscionable.
 
Enforcement of the PROTECT Act
I'm also working on strengthening the PROTECT ACT, the uneven enforcement of which is highlighted in this article from the CT Examiner.

From the article:

Despite its passage, [Barbara] Fair, a founding member of Stop Solitary, said that many of the law’s provisions are being inadequately and unevenly enforced by prisons across the state, with there being no way to ensure DOC adherence. Fair said that DOC staff have been using prison lockdowns as a means to circumvent the limits placed on solitary confinement.
…
'I was with probably 15 legislators yesterday at the Environmental Summit held at Bushnell across the street,' said Hughes. 'One of the things the Keynote said is, ‘It’s not enough to meet people where they’re at, we have to meet people where they care.’ We’ve got to make them care, because the majority of legislators do not have a loved one that is being impacted.'
 
Smishing Scam Alert
I (literally) just received a "smishing" scam text claiming that I owe $6.99 for unpaid tolls. The text includes a link from "secure.driveer" (note the misspelled word "driver") to pay off the fine. Other links contain link names like "EZDriveMA and EZDrive. Do NOT respond to these texts, click on their links or pay anything.
 
This scam is generating a lot of media coverage, as it should.
 
Some pointers from the FBI:
  1. If you receive a text, file a complaint with the IC3, www.ic3.gov, and include where the number of the originating text came from; and the website from which the number was generated.
  2. Delete any smishing texts received;
  3. If you clicked any link or provided your information, take efforts to secure your personal information and financial accounts. Dispute any unfamiliar charges.
 
As always, please feel free to contact my office at 800-842-8267 or by email at anne.hughes@cga.ct.gov. And "Like" and follow my Facebook page for regular legislative updates. 
 
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