March 25, 2003

REP. DILLON ANNOUNCES STATE FUNDING FOR SAFE HAVEN

Representative Patricia Dillon (D-New Haven) today announced the State Bond Commission will consider, during its Friday meeting, state funding for the Safe Haven project in New Haven. The $2,960,500 will be allocated in the form of a 0% interest, 30-year loan. The funds will be used for the rehabilitation of 210 State Street, an historic building located in New Haven’s Ninth Square district, into 33 studio apartments.

Safe Haven will house homeless individuals struggling with chronic mental illness, drug addiction and/or HIV.

"I have been working to secure this funding for years," Rep Dillon said. "Safe Haven will be more than a shelter. The apartments will provide homes for the hardest to house homeless  people with HIV or mental illness."

Safe Haven will include an extensive array of on-site social services to be funded by a federal Department of Housing and Urban Development grant.

Representative Dillon was first elected to the General Assembly in 1984. She is Deputy Majority Whip and serves on the Public Health, Appropriations and Judiciary Committees. Rep. Dillon chairs the Health and Hospitals Subcommittee on Appropriations.