Connecticut DDS says ARPA‑backed STEP initiative expanded supportive housing and launched new day‑services options

Connecticut’s Department of Developmental Services (DDS) told participants at an online forum that its Supporting Transformation to Empower People (STEP) initiative, funded in part with ARPA dollars, has accelerated the creation of supportive housing and new day‑service options for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

"We stood it up a little over 2 years ago, and it's known as the supporting transformation to empower people initiative," said Gunnar Abrahamson, ARPA project coordinator for Connecticut Developmental Services, introducing the program’s three pillars: transitions to community‑based supports; highlighting progressive supports to individuals and families; and encouraging providers to reimagine congregate settings.

DDS said it has approved 13 residential STEP plans and widened its funding and eligibility approach so providers can convert existing housing into supportive units more quickly instead of relying on lengthy new developments. "We have over 60 available units now," said Sarah Olaminek, an ARPA planning manager with DDS, describing a roughly fourfold increase from the program’s start and a faster rate of new units coming online.

To improve coordination, DDS hired a supportive housing director, Elba Caraballo, whom Olaminek credited with working to make the eligibility and access process more transparent for individuals, families and providers. The department also cited efforts by providers to restructure congregate settings—such as physical modifications for accessibility and adding specialized medical or behavioral staff—and to move some supported employees to competitive wages.

On the day‑services side, DDS described two new supports aimed at employment transitions: a group day employment‑exploration service for people not yet ready to move directly into competitive employment, and a peer‑focused group for people who are competitively employed but need workplace skill development. Olaminek said 16 providers have created plans to offer the new employment‑focused service and at least three were recently qualified to provide it.

DDS framed these changes as part of a broader historical shift away from institutional, congregate care toward a spectrum of community supports—while acknowledging that some congregate options (group homes, day supports) remain viable and are also being redesigned to be more person‑centered.

Forum presenters emphasized implementation details that could matter to families and providers: DDS now allows startup funding to prepare existing units for supportive housing, and it has produced public‑facing materials (videos and one‑pagers) describing STEP’s seven highlighted supports (individualized home supports, community companion homes, self‑direction, supportive housing, assistive technology, remote supports and customized employment). Attendees were directed to ct.gov/step for materials.

The forum closed with a question‑and‑answer period in which presenters and audience members discussed timelines, partnerships with other state agencies (for housing eligibility), and next steps for increasing unit supply. DDS said it will continue to expand the program and posted that the session recording and resource links would be made available online.

Why it matters: expanding supportive housing and tailoring day services can reduce wait times and give people more immediate, community‑based choices. DDS’s operational changes—hiring a supportive housing lead, broadening funding paths, and creating targeted day‑service options—are concrete steps intended to speed that shift.

Next steps: DDS said it will continue to qualify providers to offer the new day services and support providers who repurpose existing housing; additional unit openings and provider qualifications were described as expected in the coming weeks.