Lamont Proposes Using Emergency Reserve Funds To Support Homelessness Prevention Services

CONNECTICUT — Gov. Ned Lamont said he plans to submit a proposal to state lawmakers in the coming days to use money from Connecticut’s Emergency State Response Reserve to support homelessness prevention and response services statewide.

The funding, expected to total at least $5.2 million, would go to service providers that receive support through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Continuum of Care program. The federal program, the primary source of homelessness prevention and support grants nationwide, has been paused indefinitely.

Lamont said the proposed funding is intended to help families, veterans, older adults and people with disabilities remain housed while federal support is unavailable.

The Emergency State Response Reserve was created in November under Special Act 25-1 to allow the state to respond quickly to reductions in federal funding for health and human services. Lawmakers and the governor set aside $500 million in surplus funds for that purpose, authorizing the governor to allocate money subject to legislative oversight.

Lamont’s proposal is also expected to include funding to partially offset the loss of enhanced federal tax credits that help cover health insurance costs for residents enrolled through Access Health CT.
Under the law establishing the reserve, legislative leaders will have 24 hours to review the plan and may block the proposed expenditures before the funds are transferred.