Responding to the Recent 2018 HUD Report on Homelessness

12/19/18: On December 17, 2018, the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) released the 2018 Annual Homeless Assessment Report to Congress which included the Point-In-Time Count totals from every state. This report stated that 3,976 people in Connecticut were counted as homeless on the night of the 2018 Point-In-Time Count. While this would indicate a 17.4 percent increase from the previous year, it is important to note these figures include both the 3,383 people experiencing homelessness in Connecticut and the 593 people evacuated from Puerto Rico by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) due to Hurricane Maria. When looking at homelessness in Connecticut apart from the impact of a devastating hurricane that hit Puerto Rico, homelessness in our state remained steady from 2017 to 2018. Since 2007, homelessness in Connecticut has decreased 25 percent; much of which is attributed to collaborative statewide efforts to retool the response to homelessness.

The fact that homelessness remained steady from 2017 to 2018 indicates that it remains a significant issue. Connecticut is dedicated and will continue to work to ensure homelessness is rare, brief, and nonrecurring. The Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness and its partners are committed to ensuring that people resolve their homelessness quickly. For example, just this month, a concerted effort was made on family homelessness leading to 280 families, including 548 children and 438 adults, being housed. However, until we address the lack of affordable housing, individuals, families, and youth will continue to fall into homelessness.

Emergency assistance is still available to assist people displaced by Hurricane Maria who are still experiencing a housing crisis. All individuals or families seeking this assistance should call 2-1-1 to receive support.