Special Session: Addressing Housing & Federal Budget Cuts

November 14, 2025

 

This week, I was proud to join the legislature to convene in a special session to debate several important bills including housing and setting aside state funding to offset federal budget cuts. Please read below for a breakdown on why these measure are important to our community.

The federal shutdown is creating economic uncertainty across the country. You can learn more about the impact in Connecticut in the accompanying section below.

A local shelter is keeping dozens of people warm and fed as the weather gets colder. Keep scrolling to learn how the Holy Family Home & Shelter is making a difference.

Here are the sections in today's email:

  • Addressing Connecticut's Housing Crisis
  • $500 Million Emergency Response Fund
  • Let's Talk About It: Holy Family Home & Shelter
  • November Economic Update
 

Addressing Connecticut's Housing Crisis

From retirees looking to downsize, to young professionals and families searching for affordable rentals, Connecticut residents at every stage of life share a common goal: finding a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home. 
Partnerships are at the heart of this effort. We passed a bill empowering towns like Windham to plan for responsible, data-driven growth using insights from state, local, and regional partners to meet the housing needs of today and tomorrow. Developed in partnership with municipal leaders, regional councils, colleagues on both sides of the aisle, and Governor Ned Lamont, this legislation creates a collaborative and practical framework through local Housing Growth Plans.

 

The measure also encourages the redevelopment of underused properties, from aging strip malls to vacant commercial spaces, and promotes transit-oriented development that connects residents to jobs, schools, and public transportation.

By combining innovation with local control and targeted support, we’re strengthening the partnership between the state and municipalities to modernize infrastructure, improve zoning and land-use planning, and create vibrant, inclusive communities across Connecticut.

There’s still more work ahead, but An Act Concerning Housing Growth marks a major step forward in our shared effort to expand housing opportunities, support local economies, and ensure every Connecticut resident can find, and afford, a home in a community they’re proud to call their own.
 

$500 Million Emergency Response Fund

We also passed a measure to allocate funds to offset cuts in federal programs affecting our families, key programs, and essential services across Connecticut.
The House and Senate approved a proposal to set aside another $500 million for a federal emergency relief fund to cover gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), Women, Infants, and Children (WIC), and the Low-Income Heating Energy Assistance Program, also known as LIHEAP. This measure is designed to help bridge the gap because Connecticut will not sit by idly as the federal government attacks middle and low-income families.

Now that the government shutdown has ended, it may not be necessary to use the $500 million fund. The money would then automatically go back to paying down the state's pension debt.
 

Let's Talk About It: Holy Family Home & Shelter

Windham is a caring and compassionate community — one of only 17 towns in the state that hosts homeless shelters. Within Windham, which includes Willimantic, we are home to three shelters: Project Hope, a Domestic Violence Shelter, and the Holy Family Home & Shelter — the first shelter established in our region.
 
Recently, the head of the Holy Family Home & Shelter returned to my radio show, “Let’s Talk About It,” to share an update on the incredible work being done at the facility. Executive Director Sarah Dufresne explained that the shelter can accommodate up to 40 residents, with space for an additional 10 people in emergency situations.
 
Housed in the original Windham Hospital, the shelter features a fully licensed kitchen where a dedicated cook prepares fresh, healthy lunches and dinner every day. The facility also maintains a bountiful garden, which had a particularly fruitful season this year, supplementing donations and produce from Connecticut Foodshare.
 
Click the video below to listen to our entire conversation and learn more about Holy Family Home & Shelter's mission to support individuals and families in need.
Sarah Dufresne discusses the incredible work at Holy Family Home & Shelter.
 

November Economic Update

The State Comptroller's office is highlighting its latest economic update, which contains plenty of uncertainty due to what was the longest federal government shutdown in U.S. history. The in-depth report includes:

  • Connecticut businesses' thoughts on expected employment change
  • analysis of the housing market and the state's economy
Click here for November's economic update