We Address CT's Housing Crisis, Created Emergency State Response Reserve Fund

November 13, 2025



 

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Dear Neighbor,

Yesterday, the House was in session, and we passed four critical bills. While you’ll see details on those bills in the e-news today, I want to draw attention to two I’ve been involved with most directly. 

We passed the updated version of the housing bill that the governor vetoed at the end of the regular session. While this bill did not receive any bipartisan votes in the chamber, it was heavily influenced by a bipartisan group of selectmen and mayors, as well as the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities (CCM), the Conference of Small Towns (COST), the Councils of Government (CoGs), which means that the officials who will have to live with and work with this sections of this bill had the greatest input on it.

Today, the Senate is hearing the bill, and I await its passage and for the Governor to sign it into law. 

The second bill that I have spent time advocating for with many of my colleagues on both sides of the aisle, which did receive bipartisan votes, is the bill to place $500 million in the fund we set aside in the spring to deal with some of the federal cuts our state has experienced or soon will. Areas like SNAP or WIC cuts, home heating assistance, housing, and healthcare are all up for discussion and possible funding. 

I appreciate that we took the time as a legislature to come together to discuss the issues our constituents are facing and to take meaningful action on their behalf. 

Have a great week,

Eleni

 

HB8002 Addresses CT's Housing Crisis

From retirees looking to downsize, to young professionals and families searching for affordable rentals, Connecticut residents at every stage of life share a common goal: finding a safe, stable, and affordable place to call home.

Partnerships are at the heart of this effort. HB8002, passed in the House special session on Wednesday, empowers towns to plan for responsible, data-driven growth using insights from state, local, and regional partners to meet the housing needs of today and tomorrow.

Please click on the CT Mirror article below for an in-depth look at the bill and what it does.

Please click below to hear my comments on the floor on Wednesday about the bill.
 
 

$500 Million Budget Reserve Fund 

House Bill 8003: An Act Concerning Temporary Adjustments to the Budget Reserve Fund and Appropriating Funds to Address Reductions in Federal Funding represents the state’s $500 million response to recent federal funding cutbacks.

This funding will fill critical gaps in the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), the Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) program, and the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Connecticut will not stand by while the federal government undermines support for middle- and low-income families. Please click on the video below to hear my comments on HB8003.
It’s important to note that now that the government shutdown has ended, if Connecticut’s $500 million budget reserve fund is not used by July 1, 2026, any remaining funds will automatically be transferred to help pay down the state’s unfunded pension debt.
 

Children's Behavioral Health Care 

We passed legislation that continues to build on House Democrats’ commitment to children’s behavioral health care.

Highlights include:

  • Statewide study to assess the demand for children’s behavioral health services and improve data collection
  • New grant program to support care coordination and resource navigation for kids and families
  • Insurance companies must now cover autism treatments — including applied behavior analysis and cognitive behavioral therapy — up to age 26
  • Adding substance abuse treatment providers for children to the Transforming Children’s Behavioral Health Policy and Planning Committee (TCB)  

Together, these measures represent a stronger, more coordinated system of care for Connecticut’s children.
 

UConn Health and Waterbury Hospital 

During our special session, we also voted to approve $390 million in bonding over five years to support capital investments at Waterbury Hospital, as well as Bristol Hospital and Day Kimball Hospital in Putnam, which the state is also in talks to acquire. 

With the approval of HB 8001: An Act Concerning the University of Connecticut Health Center Joint Venture Initiative, we voted to preserve access to healthcare at Waterbury Hospital, voting in favor of a $13 million agreement that enables UConn Health to acquire the facility.

This acquisition is structured as a public-private partnership. Under this model, Waterbury Hospital will join the UConn Health network while remaining privately operated.

This approach ensures the hospital remains open, protects existing jobs, and strengthens the future of regional health care for those in the community who rely on it.

Through this partnership with UConn Health, we are securing long-term stability for Waterbury Hospital and expanding access to high-quality care for families who deserve it close to home.
 

Expanding Early Childhood Education 

Thanks to the Early Childhood Education Endowment, an initiative that was passed by the General Assembly in the 2025 legislative session, the expansion of the Early Start CT program in 2026 marks an important step forward in meeting the growing demand for high-quality early childhood care and education across Connecticut.

Beginning in January 2026, up to 1,000 new spaces will be added to the state’s Early Start CT program, expanding access to affordable early learning opportunities for more families. In addition, the state will increase provider payments by up to 8% to help offset operational costs and support higher staff compensation.

The endowment supports the governor’s initiative to implement the largest expansion of early childhood education services in Connecticut’s history. We are thrilled about this program and the tremendous benefits it will bring to children, families, and communities across the state.

Early Start CT is a state-funded early care and education program serving income-eligible families with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and school-age children. The program is administered by the Connecticut Office of Early Childhood (OEC).

To support this expansion, OEC will soon launch a Request for Applications (RFA) for child care providers interested in offering Early Start CT spaces. The RFA will be open to child care centers, group child care homes, family child care homes, and public school preschool classrooms throughout the state.

Click here for more information on Early Start CT.
 

Neighbors Caring for Neighbors

What a remarkable showing of neighbors caring for neighbors on Saturday at our food drive for Gifts of Love at ShopRite in Canton.

We collected 2,975 pounds of groceries and toiletries totaling $6991 in goods, plus $300 in cash, and $500 in gift cards were also donated. 

Gifts of Love helps meet the basic needs of individuals and families in the Greater Hartford area facing short-term financial crisis. They continue to share that their requests for assistance have gone up by over 20% this year, and just last week, when they ordinarily would get maybe one person, they had 20 people stop in to ask for food. 

All this is to say that your generosity will be used well, especially as we approach the holidays. 

Thank you to the Joseph family and their staff at ShopRite for being the hometown heroes they are and continuing to support our community so well. And thank you to the Gifts of Love volunteers and employees for making Saturday a success. 
 

The Wizards are Coming to Avon, Canton

The world-famous Harlem Wizards will be in our area for fundraising events twice this month.

They will be in Avon this Saturday, Nov. 15, at 7 p.m. at Avon High to take on the Avon elementary school teachers and staff.

Proceeds will go to Avon Dollars for Scholars.

The Wizards will be in Canton on Friday, Nov. 21, at 6:30 p.m. at the high school to face off against the Canton Chaos, a team of local teachers and staff from Canton public schools.

All proceeds from the game will benefit Canton’s elementary schools.

Sincerely,

Eleni Kavros DeGraw
State Representative

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