This Week's Public Hearings: Access to Child Care and Identity Documents for Families and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

This Week's Public Hearings:

Access to Child Care and Identity Documents for Families and Youth Experiencing Homelessness

This week, the Partnership for Strong Communities and other Reaching Home Campaign partners will testify in support of two important bills to protect and expand resources for Connecticut residents experiencing homelessness.

On Friday, we will testify in front of the Education Committee in support of House Bill 5222, which expands eligibility in the CARE4KIDS program for homeless families. Later that day, we will testify in front of the Public Health Committee support of Senate Bill 248, which expands access to crucial identity documents for youth experiencing homelessness.

We strongly encourage you to submit your own testimony in favor of these bills. Further details on the bills and hearings are below.

Education Committee Public Hearing
Friday, March 6th, 2020
10:00 am, Legislative Office Building Room 1E
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

The Education Committee public hearing will be held on Friday, March 6, 2020, at 10:00 a.m. in Room 1E of the Legislative Office Building.

Ask the Education Committee to support HB 5222, AN ACT EXPANDING ELIGIBILITY IN THE CARE4KIDS PROGRAM FOR HOMELESS FAMILIES, to expand eligibility in the Care for Kids Program to include families experiencing homelessness.

HB 5222 expands eligibility to the CARE4KIDS program to families with a parent or caretaker who meet category 1 (literally homeless) or category 4 (fleeing/attempting to flee domestic violence) of the HUD definition of homeless, and have been seeking employment while living in a homeless shelter for at least two consecutive weeks. The program expansion will be available to them for a period not to exceed twelve weeks.

The purpose is to allow families the childcare support necessary while in shelter to seek and find employment and become fully eligible for CARE4KIDS.

How to Testify

Whether you're new to the legislative process or an experienced advocate, you can make a difference. With your support and shared vision and commitment toward a better future, we can ensure Connecticut is equipped to make homelessness a rare, brief and one-time experience.

Here's what you can do:

Craft and submit a testimony! A testimony template that provides guidelines for format is attached to this email.
Email Danielle Hubley (danielle@pschousing.org) if you intend to submit testimony or testify in person ASAP.
Once complete, written testimony can be emailed in Word or PDF format on your organizations letterhead and sent to Danielle AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This helps to ensure that your voice is part of the conversation.
- Please submit your testimony for the Education Committee public hearing to Danielle by 9:00 am on Thursday, March 5th, 2020.
Join us at the Legislative Office Building for the Education Committee public hearing at 10:00 am on Friday, March 6th.

Public Health Committee Public Hearing
March 6th, 2020 at 11:00 A.M.
Room 1D, Legislative Office Building
300 Capitol Avenue, Hartford, CT

The Public Health Committee public hearing will be held on Friday, March 6th at 11:00 A.M. in Room 1D of the Legislative Office Building. This is your opportunity to address the access to a birth certificate for youth experiencing homelessness.

Ask the Public Health Committee to support Senate Bill 248, AN ACT CONCERNING ACCESS TO IDENTITY DOCUMENTS BY HOMELESS YOUTH AND YOUNG ADULTS.

This will allow the Department of Public Health and registrars of vital statistics to waive the fee for a certified copy of a birth certificate for youth and young adults who are experiencing homelessness. The legislation will specify a definition of homelessness consistent with the federal McKinney-Vento Homeless Assistance Act and include youth age 24 and younger.

How to Testify

Here's what you can do:

Craft and submit a testimony! A testimony template that provides guidelines for format is attached to this email.
Email Danielle Hubley (danielle@pschousing.org) if you intend to submit testimony or testify in person ASAP.
Once complete, written testimony can be emailed in Word or PDF format on your organizations letterhead and sent to Danielle AS SOON AS POSSIBLE. This helps to ensure that your voice is part of the conversation.
- Please submit your testimony for the Public Health Committee public hearing to Danielle by 9:00 am on Thursday, March 5th, 2020.
Lastly, join us at the Legislative Office Building for the Public Health Committee hearing on Friday, March 6th at 11:00 am.