Connecticut
Opinion: Tiny homes, big potential for CT's homeless
Blue and red lights flashed on the white curtains of the front windows in the darkness of early dawn as I left for my shift at Saint Rafael’s Hospital.
While emergency service vehicles are not uncommon on my downtown block, the square of sidewalk delineated by caution tape was unsettling. Even more so was the body in the center, covered only by a thin, stained white sheet. Based on the contour of the body, I immediately knew who it was: the young man who regularly slept on the stoop of the building next door.
Through the news media following his death, I learned he was a cook and bouncer who lost his job, then his housing during the height of the COVID pandemic. Once living on the streets, he became a recognized advocate for those experiencing homelessness in New Haven. Though there was never a specific cause of death named, the police eventually believed it was secondary to a medical condition.
His story is tragic but not unique: individuals experiencing homelessness die 30 years younger than those of us fortunate enough to have stable shelter. As a primary care physician at Yale New Haven Health, housing instability is as much a detriment towards my patients’ health as any disease.
Rosette Village offered New Haven a solution.
The Rosette Neighborhood Village began in 2022 as a protected space for individuals to set-up tents after the city began bulldozing tent cities throughout New Haven.
In October 2023, the community crowd-funded enough money to build six palette houses to shelter eight individuals; three months later, electricity was installed, allowing for heat, air conditioning, and the ability to power medical devices, such as a CPAP machine.
Unfortunately, despite Mayor Justin Elicker’s quotes that “Ensuring our residents have affordable, safe, and high-quality housing is a top priority,” he has actively attempted to dissolve the community since its inception. In July of this year, the mayor ordered power cut off for the community during a heat wave and issued an eviction declaration for the removal of the tiny houses.
Tiny house and pallet shelter communities for the unhoused have already proved successful in other metropolitan areas such as Madison, WI; Los Angeles, CA; and, Portland, OR as early as 2000. As of 2020, there were 91 tiny house villages, either open or slated to be opened, for those experiencing homelessness. New Haven can be added to this growing list with something as simple as a zoning law protecting these individuals and their homes.
In October of last year, homelessness was declared a state emergency, as it remains in a progressive housing crisis with a 14% yearly increase in the homeless population. In New Haven, 25% of residents live in poverty– 15 percentage-points above Connecticut as a whole. Similar data shows that New Haven apartment rentals and energy utilities cost an average of $750 and $125, respectively, more a month than the national average.
Given the ever-increasing demand, a shelter bed is hard to find in New Haven. Even if more shelter beds were available, it is common sense that a permanent residence, even if tiny, offers multiple benefits when compared to a shelter, such as having a safe place to store belongings, including medications, stay during bad weather (those staying in shelters must leave, with their belongings, during the day) or allowing married couples to make a home together.
Housing and healthcare go hand-in-hand, and when there is not enough housing, as is the case in New Haven, the healthcare system feels the strain.
My colleagues and I have many stories of caring for patients who present to the emergency room for a meal or a place to sleep. This is not a sustainable, nor cost effective way to manage homelessness. However, returning to the streets is not a viable solution, especially as violent crime against unhoused individuals is increasing in New Haven.
Yet, I emphasize again; instead of encouraging a system that has shown to be effective, the City of New Haven is trying to shut down Rosette Village, which would evict eight more individuals, friends, neighbors to the street. While the threat of another heat wave has passed, we all feel the chill of winter approaching and yet, three months later, electricity has yet to be restored.
We may never get Mayor Elicker’s support, but he is not the only person who can address this. To my state congress people and local alders, will you please create legislation that will protect Rosette Village as well as future tiny village efforts which could offer safe and sustainable housing solutions to the nearly 3,500 Connecticut residents experiencing homelessness?
Miranda Savioli M.D. is a physician at Saint Rafael’s Hospital in New Haven.
Connecticut
Joe Deko Appointed to State Legislature’s Group Studying Prepaid Funeral Contracts to Protect Consumers
- Reviewing contract structures: Examining issues related to pre-need funeral contracts and cremation service agreements.
- Strengthening oversight: Recommending stronger consumer protections and improvements to state regulation of the funeral services industry.
- Developing compensation mechanisms: Creating rules for distributing funds to affected consumers and exploring the framework for a future industry-backed guarantee fund.
Deko took to Facebook to share the news.
“I am honored to announce my appointment to the Connecticut State working group focused on reviewing and strengthening Connecticut’s prepaid funeral laws.
This important effort brings together professionals and stakeholders committed to ensuring that prepaid funeral arrangements continue to serve and protect Connecticut families while maintaining the highest standards within our profession.
I am grateful for the opportunity to contribute my experience and perspective to this process and look forward to working collaboratively with fellow members of the group.
A special thank you to Senator Paul Cicarella for his confidence in me and for entrusting me with this appointment. Your support and leadership are greatly appreciated. I look forward to helping shape thoughtful policies that will benefit Connecticut families and the funeral profession for years to come.”
Connecticut
Sierra Club Connecticut, State Representatives Host Black Lungs Matter: Juneteenth Press Event – CleanTechnica
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Hartford Advocates and Community Members Gathered to Remember, Honor Path to Freedom
HARTFORD, Ct. — Today, Sierra Club Connecticut and State Representatives Minnie Gonzalez, Maryam Khan, and Jilian Gilchrist hosted Black Lungs Matter, a Juneteenth Press Conference, at the Connecticut Legislative Office Building.
The event highlighted the disproportionate impact of air pollution on Black residents in Connecticut and the broken promises that have contributed to this impact. Speakers included state representatives, public health and civil rights experts, plus local voices from Sierra Club Connecticut and the Connecticut Coalition for Economic and Environmental Justice.
The groups are concerned that Governor Lamont is no longer moving ahead with eliminating all carbon emissions from state building heating and cooling systems, as he pledged in Executive Order 21-3. The Trump Administration has also cancelled at least $50 million in federal grants for environmental justice projects across New England, a substantial portion of which was slated to come to Connecticut environmental justice organizations.
Environmental injustice refers to the fact that environmental hazards, such as air and water pollution, and the health harms that they cause, are disproportionately experienced by people of color and low income people. Environmental justice is the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, income, ethnicity, tribal affiliation or disability, in the environmental decision making which affects them.
“Just like the enslaved people in Texas were some of the last to gain their freedom, the asthmatic children of Hartford are likely to be the last to breathe clean air,” said Dr. Mark Mitchell, founder of the Connecticut Environmental Justice Leadership Collaborative. “The Governor should keep his clean air promise to Hartford, and help fight back against the environmental injustice of the Trump Administration.”
“As a Puerto Rican woman, I stand in solidarity with Black communities fighting for the right to breathe clean air and live healthy lives,” said Rep. Minnie Gonzalez, who represents the residents that are most exposed to the pollution from Capitol Area Systems.
“As a representative of Hartford, I am deeply committed to ensuring that every child in our city breathes clean air,” said Rep. Maryam Khan. “On this Juneteenth, we recognize the painful legacy of environmental injustice that has disproportionately harmed Black communities. Today, I stand with the Sierra Club in demanding action to tackle air pollution in Hartford. No child’s future should be stolen by the air they breathe.”
“Connecticut has made commitments to Environmental Justice,” said Sharon Lewis, an Environmental Justice Advocate. “Juneteenth reminds us that commitments matter only when they reach the people they were intended to serve.”
“We cannot allow the environmental justice goals and objectives in this city to be ignored,” said Attorney Cynthia Jennings. “Any investment of our tax dollars must be used to improve the health and safety of residents in every Hartford community.”
“Let’s remind the Governor that Black Americans deserve to breathe clean air in Hartford,” said Sierra Club Connecticut Organizer Alycia Jenkins. “Once justice is won for Black Americans, justice will be won for all.”
About the Sierra Club
The Sierra Club is America’s largest and most influential grassroots environmental organization, with millions of members and supporters. In addition to protecting every person’s right to get outdoors and access the healing power of nature, the Sierra Club works to promote clean energy, safeguard the health of our communities, protect wildlife, and preserve our remaining wild places through grassroots activism, public education, lobbying, and legal action. For more information, visit www.sierraclub.org.
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NEW CANAAN, Conn. — An elderly driver was rescued from his vehicle after he accidentally crashed into a swimming pool in on Tuesday.
It happened just after 10:30 a.m. at the Steve Benko Pool at Waveny Park in New Canaan, Connecticut.
The Tesla plowed through a fence and set of trees before plunging into the water. Police say he was trying to park at the time.
The community pool was closed when it happened, so no one was swimming or in the path of the vehicle.
Lifeguards and first responders entered the pool to help the driver out of the vehicle.
Lifeguard Mike D’Urso, 18, described what happened.
“Me and my coworker were setting up the umbrellas when we heard a loud crash and we turned around and there was a car right in the middle of the pool,” D’Urso said.
D’Urso said the man was conscious and alert, but the vehicle began to take on water.
“The car began to sink a couple minutes in, and my concern was that the water would rise above his head and wouldn’t be able to breathe,” D’Urso said.
D’Urso and EMS workers pulled the victim out through the passenger side window. The driver said he wasn’t injured, but he was taken to a local hospital for evaluation.
The pool will have to be drained, cleaned and refilled. Officials hope to have it reopened by the weekend.
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