Bridge the Gap: Connecticut Must Act to Prevent Homelessness Among Seniors

Dear Governor Lamont, Attorney General of Connecticut, Honorable Senators, and Esteemed Members of the Connecticut General Assembly,

I am writing on behalf of UR Community Cares, a Connecticut nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting older adults and individuals with disabilities in our community. We are reaching out with urgency and deep concern regarding the imminent discontinuation of a vital workforce development program, MaturityWorks, whose trainees are individuals aged 55 and older, who are at serious risk of losing their source of income. We proudly serve as a host agency for their trainees, just as many other nonprofits across the state do—organizations that deeply depend on the invaluable support these individuals provide.

We were informed at 4:46 pm today, June 27th, that due to a lapse in federal funding, these trainees will not report to our agency or any other agency after Monday, June 30th. Without immediate intervention, these individuals—who are already living paycheck to paycheck—face the very real threat of homelessness within a month.

This program has not only provided them with financial stability but also a renewed sense of purpose, dignity, and community engagement. The loss of this opportunity would be devastating, not only to them personally but to the broader mission of empowering older adults to remain active and independent.

We respectfully urge your office to consider allocating emergency state funding to sustain this program while federal resources are being resolved. A temporary bridge in funding would allow these individuals to continue their work, maintain their housing, and avoid the cascading consequences of sudden unemployment.

We are prepared to provide any additional documentation or data needed to support this request and would welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter further at your earliest convenience.

Thank you for your leadership and for your continued commitment to the well-being of Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents.

With sincere gratitude,

Michelle Puzzo, Executive Director, UR Community Cares

860-430-4557

info@urcommunitycares.org