Funding is still available from the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness (CCEH) to help people who have been evacuated from Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria who are continuing to experience a housing crisis.
This funding can be used to help stabilize housing through support such as rental assistance, security deposits, moving costs, utility assistance, credit repair, bus passes to employment, car repairs for employment purposes, furnishings, housing search and placement, housing stability case management, and more.
“Even though it has been over a year since Hurricane Maria devastated Puerto Rico, people are still arriving in Connecticut and those currently living in the state are still struggling to stabilize their housing, putting them at risk of homelessness,” says Mary Ann Haley, Deputy Director of CCEH. “There are people struggling right now and don’t know that this relief is available. We need everyone to reach out to people in their community to make sure they are aware of this funding.”
According to a study commissioned by the Hartford Foundation released last year, it is estimated that more than 13,000 people came to Connecticut from Puerto Rico in the wake of Hurricane Maria.
People evacuated from Puerto Rico due to Hurricane Maria experiencing a housing crisis or organizations helping someone in this situation should dial 2-1-1, (option 7 for Spanish) to get connected to housing supports and access this funding. Funding is available statewide.
Connecticut 2-1-1 can also help connect people with other services such as food, clothing, household goods, healthcare, and more. Dial 2-1-1 or visit them online at www.211CT.org.
These funds were made available after federal FEMA aid ended by the Community Foundation of Greater New Britain, Community Foundation of Middlesex County, CT Community Foundation, CT Department of Housing, Dime Bank, Farmington Bank Community Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Liberty Bank, Melville Charitable Trust, Napier Foundation, Savings Bank of Danbury, United Way of Greater Waterbury, Webster Bank, Fairfield County’s Community Foundation, and United Way of Central and Northeastern Connecticut.
