You asked for a brief summary of the bills that the Housing Committee favorably reported to the Finance, Revenue and Bonding Committee.

HB 5072 - AN ACT AUTHORIZING BONDS OF THE STATE FOR CAPITOL IMPROVEMENTS OF MODERATE RENTAL HOUSING OPERATED BY THE HARTFORD HOUSING AUTHORITY.

The bill authorizes up to $50 million in bonds for the Department of Economic and Community Development to provide a grant to the Hartford Housing Authority for the rehabilitation, renovation, or capitol improvements to state-assisted moderate rental units the authority operates.

HB 5071 - AAC THE SUPPORTIVE HOUSING INITIATIVE

The bill authorizes the state to provide annual debt service payments on an additional $35 million in bonds (from $105 million to $140 million) the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority may issue to finance “Next Steps” Supportive Housing units.  PA 08-123 authorized (1) an additional $35 million (from $70 million to $105 million) for such units and (2) the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services to provide an additional 500 supportive housing units mainly for people with mental illness.  Funding for these units comes from mortgages, tax credits, and grants from CHFA and DECD.

The Next Steps supportive housing program serves:

1. people or families affected by psychiatric disabilities, chemical dependencies, or both and who are homeless or at risk of becoming homeless;

2. families who qualify for federal temporary assistance;

3. 18- to 23-year olds who are homeless or at risk for becoming homeless because they are transitioning out of foster care or other residential programs;  and

4. community-supervised offenders with serious mental health needs who are under Judicial Branch or Correction Department jurisdiction.

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