August 13, 2014

Hot Report: Housing Units Supported by the Department of Housing

OLR Report 2014-R-0194 answers the following questions: How many programs does the Department of Housing (DOH) fund or administer that provide, rehabilitate, or create short- or long-term emergency, supportive, or affordable housing?  How many beds or units do these programs support?  Where are they located? 

Other OLR Reports list residential housing programs operated by or under contract with other state agencies: 
  1. 2014-R-0078 (departments of Developmental Services, Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS), and Children and Families (DCF) operated or funded group homes).
  2. 2014-R-0195 (Nursing homes receiving funds from the Department of Social Services (DSS)).
  3. 2014-R-0197 (Department of Corrections and Judicial Branch residential programs).
DOH funds or administers numerous programs providing, rehabilitating, or creating short- or long-term emergency, supportive, or affordable housing.  DOH provided our office with information on 12 of these programs.  They are the:
  1. Assisted Living Demonstration Program (363 units);
  2. Congregate Housing Program (985);
  3. Elderly Rental Assistance Program (1,376 units);
  4. Emergency Shelter Program (1,720 beds);
  5. Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program (298 dormitory-style beds and 215 units, including 3 houses);
  6. Moderate Rental Payment In Lieu Of Taxes Program (3,590 units);
  7. Privately Owned Rental Housing Tax Abatement Program (6,268 units);
  8. Rental Assistance Program (houses 4,032 individuals);
  9. Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher Program (houses 7,451 individuals);
  10. Section 8 New Construction/Substantial Rehabilitation Program (798 units);
  11. State-Assisted Supportive Housing Program (1,178 units); and
  12. Transitional Living Program (517 beds and 6 units).
In many cases, DOH is just one of many funding sources for these programs.  For example, (1) the Supportive Housing Program is supported by DOH, DCF, DMHAS, DSS, and the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, among other entities and (2) DOH gives grants under the Housing Opportunities for Persons with HIV/AIDS Program using both federal and state money.
 
DOH also provided information on housing construction and rehabilitation projects receiving funding under various DOH programs that were contracted for on or after January 1, 2011.  Since January 1, 2011, at least 1,175 new housing units have been built with such funding and at least 7,419 additional units either are under construction or received funding commitments.
For more information, read the full report.
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