Dominique Johnson

I am proud to announce that several arts-based organizations in our district have received state funding. The Connecticut Department of Economic & Community Development (DECD) awarded  232 grants totaling over $1 million to Connecticut arts organizations and municipal arts departments through the Supporting Arts grant program. The graphic below lists all of the recipients in Norwalk and Westport. Congratulations!

Under the revised eligibility benefit levels, Connecticut residents qualify for SNAP if their monthly gross income is at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.

This small change has had a tremendous impact throughout the state. I am thrilled that we were able to provide more resources and assistance to those who need it. 



As a reminder,  SNAP enrollees are also automatically eligible for other federally-funded services, such as the National School Lunch and Breakfast Program, Head Start, and the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program!



I encourage you to take a second look at whether you can benefit from SNAP under these new revisions. Click here to learn more.  

The Westport Human Services Department invites residents to support the Westport Warm-Up Fund. This community-supported initiative helps income-qualified households with home heating expenses through the cold winter months. 

It's especially welcome as the cost of food, housing -- and heating bills -- all rise.

Tax-deductible donations to the Westport Warm-Up Fund can be made online (click here, then scroll down), or by mail to Department of Human Services, Westport Town Hall, 110 Myrtle Ave., Westport CT 06880.

Each Christmas season, the Wreaths Across America program honors fallen servicemembers, and all who serve. Over 2 million volunteers take part, in all 50 states and overseas.

Last year, for the first time, Westport joined in, and they will participate again this year. I am looking forward to participating and I hope you will, too.

The event will be held on December 16 at 12:00 PM at  Assumption Greens Farm Cemetery on Greens Farms Road.

Click here to sponsor a wreath. To designate a wreath for a specific veteran at the Assumption cemetery, email Patty Kondub: nortonpk@aol.com. You can also email her to volunteer to mark graves before December 17, and place them on that date. 

The new Standard Service Rate, if approved by PURA, would be in effect from January 1, 2024 to June 30, 2024. 

Eversource is also offering several options for those who need help negotiating their bills!

• A new Low-Income Discount Rate will take effect December 1^st, which gives customers with a financial hardship status either a 10% or 50% discount off their electric bill per month. Customers can qualify to receive the discount based on household income or receipt of a public assistance benefit. For example, if a customer has a $100 monthly bill, it would be $10 less if they receive a 10% discount or $50 less if they receive the 50% discount.
• The New Start Program can help customers pay their past due balance in as little as 12 months. If customers make their monthly payments on time, we will subtract some of what is owed each month. (For example, if a customer’s budget payment amount is set at $150 per month and their past due balance is $1,200, for every month they make the required $150 payment towards their bill, we will reduce the past-due balance by $100.) 
• Budget Billing helps avoid seasonal spikes on a customer’s energy bill by letting them pay a fixed amount each month based on their average annual usage.
• Flexible Payment Plans are available to all customers to help pay their past-due balance over a period of time.
• The Matching Payment Program can lower the amount customers owe on energy bills. For every dollar they pay and every dollar they receive from the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program, we will subtract a dollar from the amount owed.

Eversource is encouraging all customers to contact the energy company at Eversource.com/Billhelp or 800-286-2828 to find out if one of these programs could be beneficial.

Sincerely,

Dominique Johnson
State Representative