February 21, 2012

REP. WALKER & SEN. HARP PROMOTE AFFORDABLE HOUSING FOR FAMILIES
Children should not be taken by state because of poverty

State Representative Toni Walker and Sen. Toni Harp (D-New Haven), Chairs of the legislature’s Appropriations Committee, were shocked to hear of Connecticut children in Department and Children and Families’ custody due to poverty and a lack of housing options. State law forbids DCF from removing children from their homes because of poverty, but the agency has been left with little choice because of the lack of affordable housing.

There are currently 83 children in state custody, not because of abuse, but because their families have no place to live.

“Families with children need to jump the line for subsidized housing,” Rep. Walker said. “We need to make this a priority.”

Rep. Walker said line-jumping is only a short-term solution and the state needs to make a real commitment to affordable housing.