Connecticut
Opinion: Housing vouchers are CT’s strongest housing policy, and best tool vs. Washington dysfunction
While much has been shared about the disastrous consequences of Gov. Ned Lamont’s veto of the housing omnibus bill, H.B. 5002 (see here, here, here, and here for some highlights), there is one area of housing policy where Connecticut is leading the charge: housing vouchers.
Connecticut is one of only a handful of states to have their own state-funded housing voucher program. While most of the country relies solely on the distribution of federal Section 8 housing vouchers (which only one in every four eligible households can access due to underfunding), for the past four decades Connecticut has stepped up to expand rental assistance to our most vulnerable populations through our Rental Assistance Program (RAP). The program is still going strong: in the most recent budget, the General Assembly approved $6.7 million in Fiscal Year 27 to create more than 400 new vouchers. We have a history of taking care of our people when federal dollars fall short.
Now, with federal funding more uncertain than ever, Connecticut is one of the best poised states to step in and step up to keep our families in their homes. As the Trump Administration has threatened housing stability for voucher recipients — through the government shut down, drastic proposed budget cuts, and new proposed work requirements — Connecticut doesn’t need to scramble to implement new emergency programs. We can build out our existing infrastructure to provide a safety net for the casualties of this administration’s cruelty.
What exactly is the Rental Assistance Program? It helps very low-income families afford safe, decent housing in the private market. Participants locate a private rental home — from apartments to single family homes — and arrange for the landlord to accept rental assistance payments. Rental assistance is a subsidy, not a free ride. Families making up to 50% of Area Median Income, or between $35K-$43K for a three-person household, will pay up to 40% of their monthly income in rent (30% for elderly and disabled tenants) and the state makes up the difference between what the family can afford and what the private market charges. (See pschousing.org for an explainer on the differences between federal and state housing vouchers.)
When it comes to housing, other states face a difficult choice: let their residents face eviction and homelessness, or build the plane as they fly it by creating new programs, funding streams, and bureaucracies while in crisis.
Connecticut is prepared and doesn’t need to face this impossible choice. It’s simple: mobilize and fund our existing Rental Assistance Program to keep families safe and stably housed.
Our most urgent first step is to mitigate the impacts of the government shutdown. Current funding for Section 8 vouchers is estimated to last until the end of November – then public housing authorities are on their own. The governor and General Assembly can lead in their upcoming special session by providing funding for the Department of Housing to cover the gaps.
An eviction can follow a family and make it impossible for them to find housing for years to come. Evictions as a result of the federal government reneging on their rental agreement are deeply unfair to voucher holders who have consistently paid 30% of their income in rent. It would be a mistake to allow a wave of evictions and homelessness to move forward during a temporary shutdown when we have the tools and the funds to step in.
Connecticut’s policymakers can plan ahead for how to best deploy our Rental Assistance Program to mitigate a future housing crisis from Washington:
Connecticut has the opportunity to be a housing leader. No one deserves to be evicted because of dysfunctional federal policies, and we can and should stand up for our neighbors. We urge our state leaders to not forget their most powerful tool in this fight — state housing vouchers.
Alysha Gardner of New Haven is senior policy analyst for Hartford-based Partnership for Strong Communities.
Connecticut
Florida High School State Bronze Medalist Dajah German Verbals To Connecticut For Fall 2027
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Florida high school state bronze medalist Dajah German has announced her verbal commitment to swim and study at the University of Connecticut beginning in the fall of 2027. She publicized the news on SwimCloud, writing:
I am so excited to announce my verbal commitment to continue my academic and athletic career at the University of Connecticut! I’m incredibly grateful for everyone who has supported me throughout this journey, my family, coaches, teammates, and friends who have pushed me to be my best throughout the years. And a very special thank you to Coach Chris and Coach Nicole for believing in me and giving me this opportunity. I’m so excited for what’s ahead. GO HUSKIES!
A rising senior at Fort Lauderdale High School in Florida, German trains year-round with Swim Fort Lauderdale and primarily specializes in the sprint and middle-distance freestyle events.
German has improved each year of her high school career, most recently dropping from 23.78, 51.39, and 1:50.56 in the 50/100/200 free to 23.54, 51.35, and 1:49.69 during the 2025-26 short course season.
German’s top meet of the season was the Florida Senior Championships in March, where she recorded her current PBs in both the 50 and 200 free. She finished second in the 500 free (4:55.94) and 1650 free (17:02.78), third in both the 50 free and 200 free, and fifth in the 100 free (51.43). She set her current 100 free PB at a smaller holiday meet in December. In the 500 free, she clocked a season-best 4:55.21 at the Speedo Cup in January, with her lifetime best of 4:53.19 coming at the 2025 Florida Senior Championships.
German has qualified for the FHSAA (Florida High School Athletic Association) State Championships for the past three years, with her top performance coming at the 2025 iteration in November. She placed third in the 50 free (23.96), fifth in the 500 free (5:01.12), and helped Fort Lauderdale to fourth place in both the 200 free relay (24.64 leadoff) and 400 free relay (53.08 anchor).
Top SCY Times:
- 50 Freestyle: 23.54
- 100 Freestyle: 51.35
- 200 Freestyle: 1:49.69
- 500 Freestyle: 4:53.19
A Division I Mid-Major program, Connecticut competes in the Big East, with the women’s team placing second out of seven teams at this past season’s conference championships. German’s current lifetime bests would have placed third in the 200 free, fourth in the 500 free, eighth in the 50 free, and ninth in the 100 free, setting her up as an immediate contributor with two full seasons of training still ahead before her first conference meet.
German joins Anna Mumford, Lyla Devlin, Lena Brown, and Louisa Holda in committing to the Huskies’ class of 2031 so far.
If you have a commitment to report, please send an email with a photo (landscape, or horizontal, looks best) and a quote to [email protected].
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Here are the forecast details for northern Connecticut via the National Weather Service:
Today: Sunny, with a high near 80. Light west wind increasing to 6 to 11 mph in the morning.
Tonight: Partly cloudy, with a low around 56. Northwest wind around 6 mph becoming calm in the evening.
Monday: A chance of showers before 2pm, then a chance of showers and thunderstorms between 2pm and 4pm, then showers likely and possibly a thunderstorm after 4pm. Increasing clouds, with a high near 76. Calm wind becoming southeast around 6 mph in the afternoon. Chance of precipitation is 60%. New rainfall amounts between a quarter and half of an inch possible.
Monday Night: Showers and possibly a thunderstorm. Some of the storms could produce heavy rainfall. Low around 59. Southeast wind around 8 mph becoming southwest after midnight. Chance of precipitation is 90%. New precipitation amounts between three quarters and one inch possible.
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