End Homelessness Caucus Outlines Legislative Priorities

February 21, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

On Thursday, the End Homelessness Caucus held a press conference to outline our legislative priorities for the ongoing session. 

We are asking for the following:

  • Passage of H.B. 6894: AN ACT ESTABLISHING AN INTERAGENCY COUNCIL ON HOMELESSNESS
  • Passage of H.B. 7033: AN ACT PROHIBITING A MUNICIPALITY FROM IMPOSING ANY PENALTY ON HOMELESS PERSONS FOR PERFORMING LIFE-SUSTAINING ACTIVITIES ON PUBLIC LAND.
  • Add $33.5 million as an annual line item in the budget for homelessness services
  • Add $5 million-dollar annual line item in the budget to fully fund cold-weather services 

I am overjoyed that this caucus has finally become a reality. It is unacceptable that rates of homelessness in our state have increased over the past few years. The budget allocations and our proposed legislation will not only provide a great relief to homeless individuals, but to the wonderful and dedicated employees of organizations that handle homelessness services, who often work around the clock for little pay. Thank you to everyone who attended yesterday’s caucus meeting and stood with us today. Together, we will achieve our goal!
 

The Black and Puerto Rican Caucus will hold a public hearing on March 3 at 4:30 PM. Click here or the image below to register. 
 

ICYMI - I am partnering with the Connecticut Justice Alliance for an event called Let's Discuss Youth Justice in Norwalk and Across the State. I will lead a discussion about ensuring that all our children’s needs are being met across Connecticut.

Registration is not required, but you can RSVP by clicking this link.
 

Your voice matters! Get involved in public hearings to help shape the future of your community. It’s your chance to speak up, share your concerns, and be a part of decisions that impact everyone.
 
You only need to register if you wish to provide testimony. If you want to observe the hearings, you can tune in and watch them live on the committee’s YouTube channel.
 
Register to testify and learn more about this week’s schedule, including the bills that will be heard, in this week’s CGA Bulletin. ➡️cga.ct.gov/asp/CGABulletin/Bulletin.asp
 

There are several free resources available this year for anyone who needs to file state and federal taxes.

You can use the IRS Direct File Tool, which is a new option for anyone who lived and earned all their income in Connecticut last year.

Click here for more information on IRS Direct File Tool.

The federal government is also offering the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) program, which offers free tax preparation services to eligible taxpayers. Here is some of the eligibility date for VITA:
•    Household income less than $68,000
•    If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
•    No income from a rental property
 

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