Testimony to CT Appropriations Committee on Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services Budget
Testimony on H.B. 5032, An Act Adjusting the State Budget for the Biennium Ending June 30, 2027: Department of Mental Health & Addiction Services
Appropriations Committee Hearing, Subcommittee on Health
Good afternoon, Senator Osten, Senator Somers, Representative Walker, Representative Nuccio, and members of the Appropriations Committee.
My name is Jessica Kubicki. I’m the Chief Initiative Officer of the Opening Doors Initiative at the Housing Collective based in Bridgeport, and I’m also a resident of Bethel, CT. Thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I’m here to voice support for the CT CAN End Homelessness legislative agenda, including coordinated budget investments and policy changes needed to prevent and solve homelessness statewide.
The Housing Collective’s Opening Doors Initiative (ODI) manages the homelessness emergency response system throughout western Connecticut, including Fairfield County, Litchfield County, and greater Waterbury. The Opening Doors Initiative is made up of Opening Doors Fairfield County (ODFC), and the Northwest Connecticut Coordinated Access Network (CAN).
In 2014, ODI and several partners helped establish Connecticut’s eight CANs, which today represent the state’s coordinated emergency homeless response system. From 2014 to 2020, with sustained investment we drove down homelessness for seven years in a row, ended veteran homelessness, and earned recognition as a national model from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
In 2020, the pandemic disrupted the real estate market, rents and home prices soared, and homelessness has increased every year since. Connecticut data shows the main driver is housing affordability—when expenses exceed income, people lose housing, double up, and face eviction or foreclosure. Since 2021, homelessness has increased 44%. In the past year alone, unsheltered homelessness rose 45%. That’s 45% more people living outside across communities in every ZIP code—rural, suburban, and urban alike.
Last year more than 130 people passed away while experiencing homelessness in Connecticut. CT Insider shared some of their stories in the 48 Hours of Homelessness series. Every one of these people had a family. They are lives, not statistics. They are people of all ages and abilities, including older adults, children, and people living with disabilities.
It does not have to be this way. I’ve seen firsthand that we can prevent and solve homelessness with proper resources. We did exactly that from 2014 to 2020. When we make even modest investments in homelessness solutions–especially preventing homelessness before it starts–our world-class system delivers meaningful results. This means safer communities and safer streets where people are not dying while experiencing homelessness.
U.S. HUD provides the majority of support for homelessness response funding in Connecticut. Yet HUD’s attempt to cancel up to 70% of this funding in late 2025 demonstrates that we can no longer rely on the federal government for this level of support. The state now has an opportunity–and an obligation–to step in and provide a greater level of support.
We appreciate that the Governor’s budget includes investments related to homelessness and housing stability. Those dollars matter and reflect recognition of urgency—but they should be a floor and not a ceiling for support.
I respectfully urge the Legislature to adopt a coordinated annual investment package totaling $123.9M so Connecticut can reduce the number of people falling into homelessness, meet existing demand, and accelerate exits to housing so homelessness declines.
PREVENT — Invest $10M annually in a Housing Crisis Response Fund
Housing insecurity is widespread: 11% of Connecticut adults - more than 300,000 people - ran out of money for housing in the past year.
The Governor's FY 27 proposed budget adjustments include $5M for eviction prevention and HUB outreach. These funds go to support the critical work of all of the 14 HUBs across CT, which are a critical part of the homelessness response system and play a key role in providing diversion and services to people who are experiencing housing insecurity and homelessness. Eviction prevention is also critical and helps to ensure that we prevent homelessness before it begins.
We support the inclusion of this $5M in the FY 27 budget, and we are asking for an additional $10M Housing Crisis Response Fund to provide flexible, rapid assistance to keep households stable and prevent shelter entry.
RESPOND — Invest $31.6M annually to bring people inside, stabilize services, and expand capacity
We recognize and appreciate the $5M that is included in the Governor’s FY 27 proposed budget adjustments and the acknowledgment that there is increased need, as well as the additional $610,000 for shelters.
Based upon the rapidly increasing need for warming centers, our experience this winter, we are asking for an additional $6.39M for year-round extreme weather response so communities can rapidly open overflow and warming/cooling shelters during predictable demand spikes and dangerous conditions, for a total of $12.3M for extreme weather capacity.
We are also seeking $3.5M to stabilize core services (7% COLA) so providers can retain frontline staff, protect existing shelter and outreach capacity, and keep services functioning statewide. We are also seeking $15.8M to expand staffing capacity to reduce inflow and accelerate exits to housing, including prevention/diversion staff, outreach workers, housing search and landlord engagement, employment navigation (including youth capacity), and expanded 2-1-1 Housing Crisis Line hours.
Outreach is not “extra.” Outreach is the bridge between people living outside and the housing and care that ends homelessness.
The Governor’s proposed budget adjustments support winter response, but do not yet fund the full $31.6M integrated package - particularly the year-round-model, COLA stabilization, and the staffing investments needed to meet current demand without pushing providers into deficits.
HOUSE — Invest $82.3M annually to expand RAP + case management
Connecticut must expand rental assistance to prevent homelessness and help people move
from shelter into stable housing. We appreciate the Governor’s proposed FY 27 budget adjustments which include the following affordable housing provisions:
- $10M baseline adjustment to maintain housing stability for 6,400 existing Rental Assistance Program (RAP) voucher holders amid rising housing costs;
- $6.7M for targeted RAP investments, including up to 250 elderly/disabled RAPs and up to 250 Head Start on Housing RAPs; and
- $500,000 to support housing solutions for homeless youth.
We appreciate these investments, which protect vulnerable seniors, families, and people with disabilities. Acknowledging that thousands of Connecticut households who are eligible for RAP assistance are not currently receiving it, we are asking for an additional $50M to serve 3,400 additional households. We are also asking for $32.3M for housing-focused case management through DMHAS that helps people remain stably housed, especially people with disabilities, serious health needs, or long histories of homelessness.
This is Housing First in practice: pairing rental assistance with the right level of support so people can stabilize, recover, and remain housed. Stable housing reduces shelter demand, improves health outcomes, and strengthens communities.
This funding will ensure that these 3,400 additional households receive case management to ensure housing stability. Preserves existing RAP funding in FY27 to protect seniors, families, and people with disabilities. Stable housing reduces shelter demand, improves health outcomes, and strengthens communities.
To conclude, I want to reiterate that Connecticut’s homeless response system delivers nation-leading results when it is funded at scale, at a level that meets the need. If you provide even modest investment, the system will deliver results. This means safer communities and safer streets where our neighbors are not passing away while experiencing homelessness.
This funding is more critical than ever given recent federal cuts and policy changes. Without state backfill, Connecticut risks housing loss, provider closures, and major system disruption.
Thank you for considering my testimony and for your leadership. I respectfully urge you to advance a budget that is scaled to the need by supporting the full $123.9 million package, alongside aligned policy changes, so Connecticut can prevent homelessness, meet today’s demand humanely, and move people into housing faster.
