Kaitlyn Shake

The Connecticut General Assembly's legislative session is set to begin in the first week of February. As we prepare for the legislative session, I want to hear from you all about what issues matter the most to Stratford residents.

In this week's email, you can learn how you can find information from ACLU CT and the Department of Education about your rights when interacting with immigration officials, learn about a new SNAP update from DSS, and more.  If you have any questions, concerns, or if my office can be of assistance to you, please call my office at any time or email me at kaitlyn.shake@cga.ct.gov.

On Tuesday, January 13th, I joined fellow legislators, CT For All, and advocates to urge the Governor to continue to spend the $500 million Emergency Response Fund passed by the legislature during November's Special Session. The Emergency Response Fund can be used to cover the federal funding gaps we are continuing to face here in Connecticut. The funding can be used for food assistance, health insurance, and more.

We are calling for action now, a few weeks out from the 2026 Legislative Session, to ensure families, seniors, and all residents have access to the resources and programs they rely on. 

On Wednesday night, January 14th, I joined United Way of Western and Coastal Connecticut for a roundtable discussion with ALICE families from Stratford at the Sterling House Community Center. This was a great opportunity to connect with families from across Stratford who shared their experiences with affordability challenges in our community. This conversation was valuable to understand how we can do more to improve financial stability for working families. We covered priority topics including housing, food insecurity, and childcare costs. I will continue advocating for these issues and fighting for financial relief for working families this session. I was thrilled to be invited alongside the Stratford Delegation and join Senator Gaston and Representative Gresko for this important discussion. 

This Thursday, January 15th, I joined United Way of Connecticut and VITA to announce the kick off of the Volunteer Income Tax Assistance program starting on January 26th. 

This program is staffed by IRS-certified volunteers who are specifically trained to help qualifying individuals, including low- to moderate-income taxpayers, people with disabilities, and those with limited English proficiency, prepare and file both federal and state tax returns accurately. 

To access VITA services, taxpayers can visit an in-person VITA site, typically located at community centers, libraries, and nonprofit organizations. Many VITA sites also offer convenient drop-off or virtual options, allowing you to submit documents securely and have a preparer complete your return remotely.

Basic Eligibility for VITA:

• Household income less than $69,000
• If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
• No income from a rental property

Click here for more information and to find a VITA site. 
 

• Fairfield County area, visit www.simplifyct.org for Virtual VITA or to schedule an appointment online, or call 860-590-8910 for an in-person appointment. This number is available 24/7.
• New Haven, Fairfield, New London, Middlesex and Litchfield counties dial 2-1-1, press 3 then 6 or visit getyourrefund.org/ACT-CT 

On Thursday, January 15th, I attended the 3rd Annual Moving Beyond Implications. This event creates an opportunity for researchers to present policy-related scholarships to legislators and other policymakers. This event allowed legislators to hear directly from researchers, ask questions, and create space for evidence-based policymaking in Connecticut. 

I had the pleasure of attending the research presentation on Energy and Technology. The main focus of the session was Grid Resilience Assessment where topics addressed reviewed Electric Vehicle Charging, The Future of Nuclear Power, and how Connecticut can prepare for critical climate challenges in the future. I also had the opportunity to attend the research presentation for Public Health. In this briefing, we discussed potential public health and health disparities due to the termination of federal healthcare insurance subsidies, effects in overdose prevention centers, healthcare for newborns and pregnant women, and more. These conversations help guide our work as we head into another legislative session and begin to make our legislative priorities.