Recent images of unheated homes in the bitter cold of the Midwest reminded the country how much it means to have safe, stable housing. Here in Connecticut, COVID-19 closures have made it harder than ever for youth to find a stable place to live, and families are facing a coming tsunami of evictions. Researchers at the Economic Roundtable report that COVID-19 will cause twice as much homelessness as the Great Recession.

CCA is fighting for safe and stable housing for children and youth.

Providing Legal Representation

Racial discrimination, discrimination against pregnant youth, and discrimination against youth with criminal records prevent homeless youth from getting a job and renting an apartment. CCA is increasing its representation of youth in discrimination cases to help them become employed and access stable housing.

Avery, pictured above, is one of CCA’s clients. She has fought through her experiences with homelessness to pursue a college degree. She called on her CCA attorney for legal assistance with housing and financial issues, and got help from CCA to pay for college textbooks. Avery is preparing to graduate this year with a Bachelor's degree in social work, which she plans to use to help youth who have also experienced tough times. For more information, email CCA paralegal Tiffany Minakhom.

 

Supporting Youth-Led Advocacy

Youth SPEAKS, CCA’s youth organizers, are advocating for improved access to housing for youth. Youth SPEAKS members conducted research on barriers to stable housing for Hartford youth and identified seven barriers. The youth are currently preparing an educational campaign to educate other youth about housing rights, and a legislative campaign in support of new legislation that will increase youths’ access to state ID cards and criminal record erasure. Youth presented their findings to CCA's staff. For more information, email CCA attorney Kathryn Meyer.

 

Advocating for Safe Public Spaces

Youth with unstable housing are forced to spend a lot of time on the street and in other public spaces, where Black and Latinx youth are stopped and searched by the police at disproportionately high rates. CCA is advocating for an amendment to the state’s Alvin Penn racial profiling law, to require police to collect and report data on the race and ethnicity of subjects of pedestrian stops. The Alvin Penn law has led to systemic reforms in police departments across the state, and reporting the race and ethnicity of youth subjected to pedestrian stops will reduce disparities and increase police accountability. For more information, contact CCA executive director Martha Stone.

 

Preventing Homelessness Among Former Foster Children

Youth turning 18 and aging out of DCF care are at particular risk of becoming homeless during the COVID-19 pandemic. CCA and its partners have successfully advocated for DCF to suspend all discharges from DCF care, during the pandemic, of youth 18 and older who have aged out of care. CCA is representing youth from across the state who turned 18 in the past year, lost their court-appointed attorneys, and want to continue to receive housing, basic needs and other support from DCF. CCA is also providing legal resources and advice to court-appointed attorneys who want to continue to represent their youth clients on a pro bono basis after youth turn 18. For more information, email CCA attorney Stacy Schleif.

 

Advocating for Heated Homes for All Children

CCA is leading the advocacy effort to secure protection from utility shutoffs for low-income families and to ensure access to very affordable payment plans that were developed by the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA). CCA was a key stakeholder in working with PURA to ensure that the programs met the financial challenges of CCA’s client community. At the present time, CCA is advocating for PURA to not proceed with utility terminations as the utility companies continue to fail to comply with PURA orders. For more information, email CCA attorney Bonnie Roswig.

 

Leading Collaborative Systems Change

CCA is co-leading advocacy work through the statewide Reaching Home Campaign to generate systemic reforms that increase services and access to housing for youth and young adults experiencing homelessness. In this leadership role, CCA is also collaborating with the National Coalition for Juvenile Justice and with partners in Fairfield County on a pilot project in Stamford that is developing systemic reforms to end the link between youth homelessness and juvenile justice. For more information, email CCA attorney Stacey Violante Cote.

 

Center for Children's Advocacy
65 Elizabeth Street, Hartford, CT 06105

cca-ct.org   860-570-5327

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