January 5, 2010 -- Gov. Rell's veto of a deficit mitigation plan passed by the General Assembly over the holidays provided the HOMEConnecticut program with a temporary reprieve. The program was slated for a $380,000 reduction under the plan passed by Democratic majorities in the House and Senate.

That would have left $2 million for planning and technical assistance grants, and incentive payments, to municipalities taking part in the program. But because the bill cut spending by only about $12 million and also delayed a reduction in the estate tax, Gov. Rell vetoed the measure.

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December 22, 2009 -- The General Assembly reduced or delayed funding  for supportive housing, HOMEConnecticut and other affordable housing programs Dec. 21, when it passed a deficit mitigation plan -- SB2101 -- for the fiscal year ending June 30, 2010.  The bill has been sent to Gov. Rell for her approval. 

The bill identifies a number of budget cuts meant to address the state’s projected $470 million budget deficit, including reducing funds to the HOMEConnecticut program (the Housing Program for Economic Growth) by $380,000. 

Read more.

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December 22, 2009 -- Despite the drop in home prices fueled by the foreclosure crisis, Connecticut and 12 other states saw the number of low- to moderate-income households burdened by their housing costs jump markedly between 2005 and 2008.

Of Connecticut's 574,233 households making 120% of median income or less, 127,380 or about 22% were spending more than half their income on housing, according to a new report from the Center for Housing Policy entitled Housing Affordability Trends for Working Households.

Read more.

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December 21, 2009 - The Partnership for Strong Communities is seeking a Development Director. The Development Director, a new position for the Partnership, will work with Diane Randall, Executive Director, an energetic team of professionals and an influential board to consolidate and build a state-of-the-art development program for a dynamic organization, positioned for growth. Read full job description here.

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December 9, 2009 -- The Appropriations Committee is holding a hearing today on Governor Rell’s proposed budget cuts. In her testimony Diane Randall, Executive Director of the Partnership for Strong Communities, urges the committee to reject Gov. Rell’s proposals to eliminate funding for HOMEConnecticut and cut housing/homelessness services in her deficit mitigation plan.

- Read Randall's testimony here.

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