Housing as a Human Right Forum Next Week!

April 10, 2025

Dear Neighbor,

I hope you are having a great week. I joined the Housing Committee chairs and Westport elected officials at Susie’s House, which is a deed restricted home that will be open to at-risk and homeless women ages 18-24. I was honored to receive an award in recognition of the End Homelessness Caucus along with Reps. Antonio Felipe and Kadeem Roberts.

As a reminder, I am co-hosting a forum titled Housing as a Human Right. Two experts will join Councilwoman Gallagher and me for a conversation about Just Cause Evictions and decriminalizing homelessness. This event will be held next Monday, April 14 at Thornton Wilder Hall. Click here or the image below to register. Hope to see you there!

Last Saturday, I grabbed lunch the American Federation of Teachers to speak with local educators about our current school conditions and how we can assist as state legislators.

On Monday, I met Hamden teachers at Councilwoman Katie Kiely’s educators and legislators coffee hour with Rep. Steve Winter and Senator Martin Looney.

Two weeks ago, I joined Senator Richard Blumenthal and some colleagues in the General Assembly for a press conference on cuts to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Finally, the End Homelessness Caucus will hold a screening of Where Then Shall We Go? The documentary tells the story of a family in New Haven who offered their backyard to unhoused people to live in. The screening will be held in Room 1B of the Legislative Office Building in Hartford on Friday, April 25 from 1 PM - 3 PM. Hope to see you there!

Please read below for more updates!

Attention Hamden residents - the Connecticut Department of Transportation will perform bridge maintenance work on Route 15 northbound in New Haven and Hamden. This project began last Monday and is set to be completed on Friday, May 2.

There will be left lane closures on Route 15 northbound, from the Heroes Tunnel to Exit 61 from 7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Click here to learn more.

April is National Distracted Driving Awareness Month, and I would like to share with you that the Connecticut Department of Transportation (CTDOT) is taking a stand with the launch of a statewide Distracted Driving Awareness and Enforcement Campaign to help keep Connecticut roads safe.

In partnership with State and local law enforcement and the U.S. Department of Transportation’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the campaign will step up efforts to enforce distracted-driving laws for the month of April.

Nationally in 2022, 3,308 people were killed, and nearly 290,000 people were injured in traffic crashes involving distracted drivers. In Connecticut in 2022, the last year of verifiable data, there were 5,318 crashes attributed to distracted driving that resulted in eight fatalities and more than 787 injuries.

The CTDOT urges drivers to prioritize safety by eliminating distractions while driving. Follow these simple tips to stay safe on the road:

If you need to send or receive a text, pull over and park in a safe location before using your phone
Designate a passenger to manage calls and messages while you drive
Avoid social media use while driving—no post is worth risking your life
Do not use a vehicle’s “infotainment” screen or other portable video players while operating a motor vehicle
If you struggle to resist checking your device, enable the “Do Not Disturb” feature, silence notifications, or place your phone out of reach in the glove box or back seat until you arrive

Click here for more information on distracted driving prevention.

With the tax deadline quickly approaching on April 15th, now is the time to take action if you haven’t filed yet. Connecticut residents have access to a variety of free resources to help complete both state and federal tax returns accurately and on time.

Whether you need in-person assistance, prefer online filing, or need guidance on available tax credits, these services are here to ensure you meet the deadline with less stress and confusion.

The IRS Direct File Tool is an option for anyone who lived and earned their income in Connecticut last year. You can use this resource if you have one or more of the following types of income:

W-2 (income from employer)
1099-G (unemployment compensation
SSA-1099 (Social Security benefits)
1099-R (income from employer-sponsored pension and retirement account)
1099-SA (distributions for qualified medical expenses from Health Savings Accounts)
1099-INT (interest income)

Click here to learn more.

The Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) 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. They can assist in claiming valuable tax credits, such as the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC), which can lead to a significant increase in your refund.

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.

Here are some of the eligibility requirement for VITA:

Household income less than $68,000
If self-employed, business expenses should be less than $35,000
No income from a rental property

Click here to book your appointment now!

The Connecticut Department of Housing will provide $30 million in funding to three housing programs aimed to benefit current and future homeowners. CT Home Funds will invest in the following programs:

The Connecticut Home Improvement Program
The Time to Own – Rehabilitation Program
The Homeownership Construction Program

This investment is designed to preserve, incentivize, and increase homeownership opportunities throughout the state. Learn more about the new launch here.