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Committee weighs extending winter emergency hotel program, uses of unspent GA funds and ReachUp one-time payments
Summary
Members discussed OEO and Economic Services recommendations for the FY25 budget adjustment: using $351,627 in unspent General Assistance funds for emergency housing, possible short-term extension of winter hotel placements through June 30, ReachUp one-time payments, and SNAP administration adjustments.
The House Human Services Committee discussed a package of economic-services items bundled for FY25 budget adjustment, including a proposal to reallocate a small General Assistance (GA) balance to extend emergency hotel placements, an option to remove the 80-day cap for certain vulnerable households through June 30, and a separate ReachUp one-time payment proposal.
Theresa Wood, committee chair, summarized the OEO and Economic Services recommendations and said a detailed memo and updated report would be circulated. Committee staff reported $351,627 available in GA that could be repurposed to the GA Emergency Housing Program; members discussed whether to apply those funds to extend hotel placements for vulnerable households who meet statutorily defined eligibility.
Why it matters: Committee members emphasized the population affected are among the most vulnerable: households with a member age 65 or older, households with documented disabling conditions (SSI/SSDI or verified by a medical professional), households with children under age 19, pregnant households, households experiencing domestic violence or the loss of a child or spouse, or households displaced by natural disaster or eviction. Staff said about 1,408 rooms are currently in use and recommended planning for a modest buffer to 1,425 rooms if the committee extends winter-housing provisions to June 30.
Other items under discussion: - ReachUp one-time payment: Economic Services proposed distributing some or all of $499,995 in projected caseload savings as one-time payments to ReachUp households. Staff presented three options: $100 per household (leaving a small contingency), evenly splitting the full amount across all households (about $134 each), or distributing only to traditional ReachUp participants (about $152 each). Committee members generally favored option one ($100 per household) while keeping remainder as contingency in case of caseload variation. - SNAP and program administration: Members agreed to prior-day recommendations to preserve SNAP administrative allocations and to avoid program disruptions.
Eligibility and verification: Committee members noted statute-language enacted last year defines who qualifies for hotel emergency housing under winter or emergency exceptions and requires medical verification for disability-based eligibility; multiple members asked for details about after-hours intake procedures (211) and verification protocols. Staff promised to invite 211 and DCF staff for follow-up questions.
The committee did not record a formal vote in the excerpted transcript. Members asked for an updated December/January report on GA balances and obligations, and staff said about $990,757 remained unobligated in the December 31 housing report; members asked whether any of that funding could be used before July 1.
Ending: The committee agreed to await a short DCF response on the unobligated funds and to return to the recommendations after receiving those numbers; if needed, the committee said it would forward alternative options for appropriations to the appropriations committee.
