News & Events
Manchester Author Works to Educate Children While Also Helping People Experiencing Homelessness
Hartford Courant - A Manchester resident who found peace and purpose during the pandemic by fulfilling her dream of becoming a children’s book author now is working for the second year in a row to make a difference in the world for children and individuals who are experiencing homelessness.
Valley Residents Discuss Worries of Heating Their Homes This Winter
NEW HAVEN, Conn. (WTNH) — Naugatuck Valley residents who are worried about heating their homes sat down with officials in Derby. Congress has allocated millions in energy assistance, but many people are worried it is still not enough. A woman named Christina says the state gave her a budget of $600 in heating assistance.
Donations Being Sought to Repair Residential Facility
Nov. 1—WILLIMANTIC — Donations are being sought through GoFundMe to repair Crossroads, a residential facility for Connecticut adolescents. The facility, which is run by Access Community Action Agency, is located in Norwich.
Connecticut Gets Funding for Heating Help This Winter
With temperatures dropping, help is on the way for those who might struggle to pay their heating bills this winter. Connecticut is getting about $21 million in federal funding to help low-income families. Through her work with Community Action Agency of New Haven, Elisha Conyers helps those struggling with heating costs sign up for the state’s low-income home energy assistance program. It’s a program she’s even used in the past.
Hartford is Working to End Homelessness. A Transformed Hotel is its Newest Step.
If there was one silver lining to come out of the COVID-19 pandemic, it was discovering that providing services to Hartford’s homeless population in a hotel was possible, according to Community Renewal Team President and CEO Lena Rodriguez. One example, Rodriguez said, was when CRT moved the 100 or so residents of the Stewart B. McKinney Men’s Emergency Shelter to the Best Western Hartford Hotel & Suites on Brainard Road.
New Executive Director’s Faith and Fighting Spirit Move HRA of New Britain Forward into Future
This is a story of personal and professional growth as it transcends to face unprecedented trials. This is a story of how a bilingual, single mother living in poverty became Dr. Marlo Greponne, executive director of the Human Resources Agency (HRA) of New Britain. The young city resident started volunteering at the non-profit organization’s Clinton Street headquarters when her daughter was enrolled in HRA’s Head Start preschool program.
New Norwalk Hub Offers Lifeline for Residents in Need of Social Services
The recently opened community resources hub connects Norwalk residents, including Spanish- and Haitian-Creole-speaking residents, to the wealth of nonprofits and social services providers in the city. Area nonprofits and social services partnering with the community resource hub includes Open Doors homeless shelter, Norwalk Community Health Center, The Marvin senior living center and the Community Action Agency of Western Connecticut, among others.
As CT Child Tax Rebate Hits Deadline, City and Town Rates Vary Widely
As the deadline nears for Connecticut families to sign up for a state tax rebate worth $250 per child, the Department of Revenue Services is seeing a rush of applications. The Connecticut Association for Community Action, a statewide network that works with lower income families, has about 5,000 kids through its child care programs. Executive director Deb Polun said the agency has near daily contact with the families of those children who its informed about the tax rebate.
Teacher Shortages at Child Care Centers Leading to Fewer Children in Child Care
Teacher shortages at child care centers across Connecticut have led to fewer children attending child care facilities, a recent report by the Connecticut Association for Human Services shows. An estimated 24,000 fewer children are currently at public and private child care centers statewide since the pandemic began in 2020. Monette Ferguson, executive director, Alliance for Community Empowerment in Bridgeport, said that the findings did not come as a surprise.
Lead Hazards in Older Homes Throughout New Britain Will be Eliminated with $5.6 Million Grant
Lead hazards in older homes throughout New Britain will be eliminated with a $5.6 million grant, according to officials. The Healthy Homes New Britain Program is leading the charge, coordinating its efforts with other housing rehabilitation programs currently offered in New Britain. Staff are partnering with the Human Resources Agency of New Britain (HRA) to provide outreach.