WALLINGFORD – The Connecticut Hospital Association (CHA) released the following statement in response to Governor Ned Lamont’s announcement that he will submit a plan to the General Assembly to use funding from the recently created Emergency State Response Reserve to support homelessness prevention and response services throughout Connecticut:
“We applaud Governor Ned Lamont’s commitment to preventing homelessness and prioritizing funding for response services. Stable housing is foundational to health, and addressing housing instability is critical to improving health outcomes, reducing avoidable hospitalizations, and advancing equity across our communities.
“Hospitals throughout Connecticut work closely with community partners to support housing resources and ensure individuals experiencing housing instability have the services and care they need. The pause in federal support is deeply concerning and threatens to undermine these efforts. When essential housing services are eliminated through funding cuts, the need does not disappear. Individuals experiencing housing instability will be forced to seek shelter and support from other trusted community institutions, including hospital emergency departments. While hospitals are a critical component of a community’s emergency care system, they cannot—and should not—serve as a substitute for stable housing.
“We appreciate the governor directing Emergency State Response Reserve funds toward essential human needs and health.”
Learn more about Connecticut hospitals’ initiatives that support housing in local communities here.
Read CHA’s statement on Governor Lamont’s plan to partially preserve subsidies for Access Health CT enrollees here.
