Unfortunately, high poverty levels lead to an increased rate of homelessness, and a reduced overall quality of life.
According to a report by Connecticut Voices for Children, poverty rose more than 40 percent in Connecticut in recent years. According to the study, poverty jumped from 8.4 percent overall and 6.8 percent among children in 2021 to 12.1 percent overall and 11.6 percent among children in 2022. An additional 13 percent of residents, including 16.8 percent of children, lived “near poverty” in 2022. Preliminary data suggests the rates remained at similar levels in 2023.
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services updated its poverty guidelines, and in Connecticut, a family of four making $31,200 or less is considered to be living in poverty. Currently an individual making $18,810 or less is considered to be living in poverty.
Connecticut has taken several approaches to reduce poverty, including focusing on increasing affordable housing, enhancing education, supporting workforce development, and expanding social services. I want to take it one step further.
In November, I was appointed to a working group that will create a framework for reducing concentrated poverty in Connecticut. This working group was established during the 2024 legislative session and will aim to eradicate concentrated poverty by requiring a development of a 10-year plan to reduce poverty to 20 percent or less.
We’ve made some strides in Connecticut implementing affordable housing options. The Connecticut Housing Finance Authority provides financing for affordable housing development, and emergency assistance is available for families. We’ve also invested in initiatives to enhance education programs that focus on early childhood education and college readiness, and we’ve raised the minimum wage. But more needs to be done.
On this task force, we’ll look at Census figures to track where the most concentrated poverty lies in Connecticut. We’ll analyze how people, families, and children are impacted. We’ll work to find a solution to effectively reduce poverty across Connecticut, and we’ll work to expand access to quality education, empower individuals with the skills needed for higher-paying jobs, helping break the cycle of poverty, improve affordable housing options, and increase the availability of health care services.
Unfortunately, Bridgeport has a poverty rate of 22 percent. In 2021, the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness reported that 239 people in Bridgeport were homeless, either in temporary housing or emergency shelters. Bridgeport is one of the places hardest hit with poverty in Connecticut, and it’s one of the major areas that deserve opportunity. We’ll work to make Bridgeport a community of opportunity. But it’s not just people in Bridgeport struggling. We, as members of the working group, will make sure to address other areas of Connecticut that display extreme levels of poverty. We’ll figure out ways to address concerns throughout our state and alleviate poverty so everyone in Connecticut is on the same playing field.
Connecticut will create a more inclusive, sustainable economy and all residents will have the same equal chance to succeed.
State Sen. Herron Gaston is a Bridgeport Democrat.