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Lawmakers and DCF debate motel use, security and modest shelter expansion funding
Summary
Committee members questioned the department about reliance on hotels under the General Assistance motel program, security funding inconsistencies, and a $3.43 million increase proposed for the Housing Opportunity Program to expand shelter capacity by about 85 households.
Legislators questioned Department for Children and Families officials about the state’s continued reliance on hotels for emergency shelter and a proposed plan to expand traditional shelter capacity.
Deputy Commissioner Maureen Gray and other DCF officials said the department has concentrated outreach and management on the GA motel program during recent years, while also pursuing shelter grants and the Housing Opportunity Program. "There are two establishments where they feel like there is a lack of safety...I have given warning letters and...I am about to issue letters letting them know that they must engage in providing some form of security," Deputy Commissioner Gregg said regarding specific hotels used for clients. Gregg said the department can stop using hotels that do not provide a safe environment.
Committee members raised concerns about whether placing people in hotels produces worse outcomes than congregate shelters and how responsibility for security is shared between state, municipality and private hotel owners. "When you have a large number of clients in those hotels who may very well become the victims of people who would move in and take advantage of them...we've had less success with large hotels and large populations," a DCF official said, arguing shelters staffed by trained professionals often offer better outcomes.
The department proposed adding about $3.4335 million in general fund to the Housing Opportunity Program and shelter expansion initiatives and said it hopes to increase capacity by roughly 85 households. Committee members cautioned that standing up shelter beds can take time and that some projects funded last year missed projected start dates. "We had a bunch of projects say we can do this by December 1...very few of them actually hit it," a DCF official told the committee.
The exchange was a factual budget and policy discussion; lawmakers did not take formal votes on the proposals during the hearing segment. DCF said it will provide more information on shelter pipeline timelines and the relationship between reducing motel use and opening shelter capacity.
