Connecticut homelessness continues to rise as advocates warn more seniors are at risk
While homelessness declined slightly nationwide this year, Connecticut is continuing to see an increase, according to a recent federal report.
Data released this year from CT HMIS found that 3,410 people were staying in shelters across Connecticut, while 437 people were living unsheltered. That brings the state’s homeless population to about 3,847 people, a slight 3% increase from last year.
The longer-term trend is more concerning. The number of people experiencing homelessness in Connecticut has surged nearly 50% over the past five years, according to the data.
Advocates say seniors are becoming one of the most vulnerable groups as housing costs continue to rise.
Darius Bailey, a board member with The Housing Collective, knows firsthand how quickly housing instability can happen. Bailey, who has experienced homelessness twice, said finding affordable housing was a major challenge.
“I could not find a place to rent,” Bailey said. “The process was too hard, affordability. I was spending money in hotels, and that gets expensive after a month or two.”
Housing costs have climbed significantly since the COVID-19 pandemic, making it increasingly difficult for many Connecticut residents to afford a home or apartment. Advocates say those rising costs are pushing more people into housing insecurity, including a growing number of older adults living on fixed incomes.
“I think ensuring that affordable housing is available for that population is more critical because we really should not be having seniors in their cars or in shelters or anything like that. They should be in housing with dignity,” said Jessica Kubicki, chief initiative officer at The Housing Collective.
Staff at The Housing Collective in Bridgeport analyzed homelessness data and found that states that invested in solutions to the issue saw declines in homelessness.
In the short term, advocates say more affordable housing is needed for people living on fixed incomes or earning minimum wage. Long-term, they say that increasing the overall housing supply is critical to addressing the problem.
“Housing solves homelessness,” Kubicki said. “That is the most important thing. Housing, and then keeping people housed.”
Bailey said homelessness is often viewed through the lens of substance abuse or mental health challenges, but he believes those issues are frequently tied to a lack of stable housing.
“You have substance abuse and mental health, but those are all symptoms from not being able to have a house. It’s symptoms from not being able to afford, of not being stable, of feeling like less than a human when you’re trying to just ask for help and get help, and there’s nothing there for you,” Bailey said.
Connecticut saw homelessness decline for roughly a decade, but that trend reversed in 2021. Advocates say the pace of growth now appears to be slowing as more resources are directed toward housing and homelessness initiatives, though they stress more work is needed to meet demand.
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