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Over the course of a year in Connecticut, over 33,000 people, including 13,000 children, do not have a place to call home.¹  On any given night, approximately 2,000 people, including 400 children, stay in the 50 emergency shelters throughout the state.²  Others who are homeless sleep in their cars, on the street, in tents, in the woods, in makeshift shelters under bridges, or in abandoned buildings.

The statewide data from the 2008 Point-in-Time Count provides an updated baseline number of the homeless in Connecticut: 3,448 total homeless households – families as well as individuals – were counted on January 30, 2008.³ Counted as individuals, this number is 4,366 prople, including 873 children. This number provides a snapshot of homelessness on one night of the year.

In addition, many Connecticut residents are at risk of homelessness. Hundreds of women, men and children are “doubled up” and staying in the homes of family and friends on a temporary basis.

High housing costs make rent payments unaffordable.⁴  Many of Connecticut’s residents with the lowest incomes live in unaffordable housing. With so much being diverted for rent, an unexpected event such as a layoff, injury or illness, the loss of a spouse, or a car breakdown could trigger a financial crisis and lead to eviction.

Chronic Homelessness

Some people experience long-term homelessness because they or someone in their family suffers from a chronic condition. This could be mental illness, substance abuse, a physical disability or a chronic illness such as HIV/AIDS. Among the 3,448 households counted in the 2008 Point-in-Time Count were 853 individuals who were homeless, had disabilities, and were experiencing “chronic, long-term homelessness.” 

Nationwide estimates place the long-term homeless population at 10-20% of the homeless population. While this group makes up a small percentage of the overall homeless population, they are essentially surviving by using the shelter and emergency service system as a permanent support. Because they access emergency services on such a regular basis, they use approximately 50 percent of emergency services available to those experiencing homelessness.⁵ 

The long-term homeless population is best served by supportive housing – permanent, affordable, and independent rental housing combined with available support services.

Transitional and Episodic Homelessness

Researchers have found that most homeless individuals and families (about 80%) have experienced a single financial crisis that resulted in a loss of housing and do not return to homelessness again. This group is sometimes referred to as the transitional homeless.

Approximately 10% of the homeless population is episodically homeless – those who experience repeated episodes of homelessness. While this population does not live in the emergency system (as the chronically homeless population does,) episodically homeless individuals and families are frequent users of emergency shelter and services, for short periods of time.

Since the majority of the homeless population enters homelessness once and then does not return, it is important that emergency resources focus on rehousing individuals and families as soon as possible, as a primary reason for homelessness in those cases is a lack of affordable housing.⁶

Ending Homelessness: Short-Term and Permanent Solutions

Emergency shelters and transitional living programs provide temporary solutions to the situation of homelessness. Other solutions to homelessness include:

• increasing the supply of affordable housing, either through new construction or rehabilitation of older housing, 
• increasing the availability of rental subsidies such as Section 8 certificates or State Rental Assistance Program vouchers, 
• preserving the safety net of social services, and
• providing adequate discharge planning from prisons, hospitals and other institutions.

There are many local organizations in the state helping those who are at risk of or experiencing homelessness to find food, shelter, and other emergency services. Other agencies provide technical assistance to shelters and service providers, and conduct research on homelessness and affordable housing issues. Other groups advocate at the state and federal level to help shape policies that ensure resources for individuals and families experiencing homelessness.

Quick Links

Opening the Back Door, National Alliance to End Homelessness
Information on the at-risk subpopulations among the population experiencing homelessness

1. “Homelessness in CT Fact Brochure.” 2007. CT Coalition to End Homelessness.
2. Ibid.
3. "Connecticut Counts 2008: Point in Time Homelessness Count Report." Center for Urban Community Services Housing Resource Center and the University of Pennsylvania Center for Mental Health Policy and Services Research, <http://www.ctreachinghome.org/pdfs/pointintimereport08.pdf>
4. Unaffordable housing consumes more than 30% of an individual’s or family’s income. 47.6% of the state’s rental households at 80% Area Median Income spend more than 30% of their income on housing. Source: 2006 American Community Survey. <http://www.census.gov/>
5. “Chronic Homelessness Brief.”  National Alliance to End Homelessness. 12 March 2007 <http://www.endhomelessness.org/files/1060_file_10085_Chronic_Homelessness.pdf>
6. "Opening the Back Door." National Alliance to End Homelessness. 12 March 2007 <http://www.naeh.org/section/tools/tenyearplan/backdoor>