In our region, fiscal year 2008-2009 was a year of great triumphs for supportive housing. The efforts of advocates like The Partnership for Strong Communities, Reaching Home Campaign and The Lyceum Center drove home the importance of challenging government budgetary decisions. In the midst of one of the longest budgetary debates in Connecticut, previously committed Next Steps II (dollars to develop new supportive housing units) were zeroed out from the state’s FY2009 budget.

For greater New Haven the decision to remove Next Steps II funding from the state’s FY2009 budget meant desperately needed and already approved supportive housing units for individuals, families with children, veterans and the disabled would not come to fruition as planned. However, in the midst of Connecticut’s heated budget discussions supportive housing advocates were infused with energy from our newly inaugurated federal administration with the development of affordable housing on its priority list.  As a result of national and local efforts to promote supportive housing, local communities won.

Funding to develop 150 units of Next Steps II supportive housing were reinstated to Connecticut FY2009 budget, passed legislation and was signed by Governor M. Jodi Rell. Simultaneously, efforts to develop communities willing to embrace new supportive housing were well underway noting the finding of studies like The United States Interagency Council on Homelessness highlighting cost saving benefits directly correlating from the implementation of supportive housing models.

These efforts made it possible for supportive housing providers, Corporation for Supportive Housing, Columbus House, Fellowship, New Haven Home Recovery, Leeway and New Horizons to provide a boost to the local housing stock completing approximately 60 new units. Currently more than 4,400 formerly homeless individuals and families reside in 85 supportive housing communities in Connecticut.

However, the work of advocating for supportive housing locally is not done. With it just being October, greater New Haven emergency shelters are already at capacity most nights and are serving an increased number of clients in need of social services that lay outside of the emergency shelter model. The fight for supportive housing for individuals, families, veterans and the disabled continues to be needed in our region. If you would like to get involved with promoting supportive housing throughout the region click hereThe Partnership for Strong Communities, Reaching Home Campaign and The Lyceum Center.