Geraldo Reyes Jr

The state is bracing for dangerously cold temperatures and plowable snow! I'll share where you can find a warm place to stay during the arctic blast.

Students are working hard for the greater good of Waterbury. I'll break down how they're transforming a church into a much-needed facility to help those in need.

My colleagues and I are advocating for a $600 child tax credit to support our working families. Keep reading to learn why this proposal matters now more than ever.

These are the sections in today's email:

• Stay Indoors During Winter Weather
• Church Converted into Warming Center
• Advocating for a $600 Child Tax Credit
• Improving Our Water Infrastructure

 

Stay Indoors During Winter Weather

I encourage you to stay indoors because we are about to experience some of the coldest temperatures and heavy snow the state has experienced so far this season. The governor activated the Severe Cold Weather Protocol from now until 12 p.m. on Wednesday, January 28. During the overnight hours, temperatures will get into the single digits and wind chills will dip below zero.

Local shelters and service providers are open with extended operations to protect vulnerable residents. Locations and Hours (through Wednesday, January 28): The Salvation Army at 74 Central Avenue Open 24 hours per day St. Vincent de Paul Mission Shelter at 114 Benedict Street Open 24 hours per day Center for Human Development Hospitality Center at 690 East Main Street Open from 8:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m. Waterbury Senior Center at 1985 Main Street Available for seniors from 9 a.m. – 2 p.m. (Monday – Friday) If you need a warm place to stay, visit 211ct.org or call 2-1-1 to find available locations. Transportation can be provided if necessary.

Church Converted into Warming Center

Local students are stepping up in a powerful way, transforming a former house of worship into a much-needed warming center. Students at W.F. Kaynor Technical High School are clearing out the former Sacred Heart Church and helping convert it into a welcoming space where our most vulnerable neighbors can find warmth, a meal, and support.

Courtesy: WTNH

Beyond serving tasty dishes, the renovated facility will offer community resources in some of the rooms, connecting individuals with stable housing options, food stamps, access to benefits such as Social Security, and other necessities. This project is meaningful because it gives our students real-world, hands-on experience trades such as in carpentry and plumbing, while delivering immediate relief to those in need in our community. Thank you to the students, educators, and partners who are making this initiative possible.

Advocating for a $600 Child Tax Credit

I was proud to join my colleagues, policy experts, and advocates at a forum to support a proposal for a state child tax credit this year. The plan would create a fully refundable $600-per-child credit, up to $1,800 per household, designed to strengthen family economic mobility and provide meaningful relief to working families across Connecticut. This proposal builds on progress we made last year, when we enacted a refundable $250 tax credit.

The need for action is urgent. Recent federal cuts to Medicaid, student loan programs, and other essential supports have placed additional strain on household budgets. At the same time, tariffs enacted under the Trump administration have driven up the cost of groceries and other everyday necessities.   Our goal is to reduce child poverty, particularly as current trends move in the wrong direction, while ensuring that every child has access to high-quality public education. By investing in children and families today, we are laying the groundwork for a stronger workforce.

Improving Our Water Infrastructure

Waterbury is taking huge strides to improve our water distribution infrastructure highlighted by the completion of a major project. This week, crews finished placing a 42-inch water transmission main back into service from the Fulton Park area toward Thomaston.   Waterbury’s upgraded water distribution system is capable of supplying the entire city through two separate transmission lines, significantly improving reliability, and reducing the risk of widespread service disruption to homes, businesses, and for emergencies like we experienced in December.