CHAPTER 319uu

HOUSING ASSISTANCE

Table of Contents

Secs. 17b-800 and 17b-800a. Transferred

Sec. 17b-801. (Formerly Sec. 17-591). Fuel and weatherization assistance programs. Crime prevention and safety program.

Sec. 17b-802. Transferred

Sec. 17b-803. Transferred

Secs. 17b-804 and 17b-805. Transferred

Sec. 17b-806. Transferred

Sec. 17b-807. (Formerly Sec. 17-86d). Policy re provision of emergency shelter in hotels or motels.

Sec. 17b-808. (Formerly Sec. 17-86e). Special needs benefit for emergency housing. Limitation.

Sec. 17b-809. Plan for informing landlords of rules concerning direct vendor payment of rent.

Sec. 17b-810. Direct payment of rent to landlord.

Sec. 17b-811. (Formerly Sec. 17-2f). Direct payments to landlords.

Sec. 17b-811a. Transferred

Sec. 17b-812. Transferred

Sec. 17b-812a. Transferred

Sec. 17b-813. Transferred

Sec. 17b-814. Transferred

Sec. 17b-815. Transferred

Sec. 17b-816. Provision of free menstrual products by domestic violence agencies that receive state funding.

Secs. 17b-817 to 17b-849. Reserved


Secs. 17b-800 and 17b-800a. Transferred to Chapter 138b, Secs. 8-359a and 8-359b.

Sec. 17b-801. (Formerly Sec. 17-591). Fuel and weatherization assistance programs. Crime prevention and safety program. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer a state-appropriated fuel assistance program to provide, within available appropriations, fuel assistance to elderly and disabled persons whose household gross income is above the income eligibility guidelines for the Connecticut energy assistance program but does not exceed two hundred per cent of federal poverty guidelines. The income eligibility guidelines for the state-appropriated fuel assistance program shall be determined, annually, by the Commissioner of Social Services, in conjunction with the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management. In determining eligibility, the commissioner shall not consider as income Aid and Attendance pension benefits granted to a veteran, as defined under section 27-103, or the surviving spouse of such veteran. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement the provisions of this subsection.

(b) The commissioner shall administer a state-appropriated weatherization assistance program to provide, within available appropriations, weatherization assistance in accordance with the provisions of the state plan implementing the weatherization assistance block grant program authorized by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981, and programs of fuel assistance and weatherization assistance with funds authorized by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 and oil settlement funds in accordance with subsections (b) and (c) of section 4-28. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54 to implement and administer said programs. The programs provided for under this subsection shall include a program of fuel and weatherization assistance for emergency shelters for homeless individuals and victims of domestic violence. The commissioner may adopt regulations, in accordance with the provisions of chapter 54, to implement and administer the program of fuel and weatherization assistance for emergency shelters.

(c) The Commissioner of Social Services shall administer, within available appropriations, a crime prevention and safety program for residences occupied by elderly and disabled persons who are eligible for the weatherization assistance block grant program authorized by the federal Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Act of 1981 or the state-appropriated weatherization assistance program. The program shall be operated through the community action agencies and the municipal agency responsible for said low income weatherization program. The program may provide for the purchase and installation, where necessary, of devices which allow a person inside a dwelling unit to view the area outside the door, or doors with windows, locks on windows and doors, and smoke detectors. The installation of devices under this program shall be done at the time weatherization is done.

(P.A. 84-267, S. 1, 2; P.A. 85-406, S. 1, 2; 85-499, S. 1, 3; P.A. 86-177, S. 1, 2; P.A. 87-216, S. 2; P.A. 91-234, S. 2, 3; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; P.A. 11-80, S. 50; P.A. 12-208, S. 10; P.A. 16-173, S. 18; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2, S. 137.)

History: P.A. 85-406 added Subsec. (b), requiring commissioner to administer a state-appropriated weatherization assistance program; P.A. 85-499 added Subsec. (c) re crime prevention and safety program; P.A. 86-177 added provisions in Subsec. (b) requiring commissioner to adopt regulations establishing priorities for weatherization assistance; P.A. 87-216 amended Subsec. (b) by requiring commissioner to administer federally funded fuel and weatherization assistance programs and a program of fuel and weatherization assistance for emergency shelters; Sec. 17-31w transferred to Sec. 17-591 in 1991; P.A. 91-234 revised provisions re determination of eligibility for the state-appropriated fuel assistance program in Subsec. (a); P.A. 93-262 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of human resources, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-591 transferred to Sec. 17b-801 in 1995; (Revisor's note: In 1997 the reference in Subsec. (a) to “Commissioner of the Department of Social Services” was replaced editorially by the Revisors with “Commissioner of Social Services” for consistency with customary statutory usage); P.A. 11-80 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting former Subdiv. (2) re requirement for energy audits and renumbering existing Subdivs. (3) to (5) as Subdivs. (2) to (4), effective July 1, 2011; P.A. 12-208 amended Subsec. (a) to add provision re income disregard for veterans' Aid and Attendance pension benefits, effective July 1, 2012; P.A. 16-173 amended Subsec. (b) by deleting “and by the U.S. Department of Energy in accordance with 10 CFR Part 440 promulgated under Title IV of the Energy Conservation and Production Act, as amended,”, effective June 7, 2016; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 17-2 amended Subsec. (b) by replacing “shall” with “may” re adoption of regulations, deleting Subdivs. (1) to (4) re matters to be included in regulations, and adding “to implement and administer said programs”, effective October 31, 2017.

Cited. 233 C. 557.

Sec. 17b-802. Transferred to Chapter 138, Sec. 8-339.

Sec. 17b-803. Transferred to Chapter 138b, Sec. 8-359c.

Secs. 17b-804 and 17b-805. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Secs. 8-347 and 8-347a.

Sec. 17b-806. Transferred to Chapter 138b, Sec. 8-359d.

Sec. 17b-807. (Formerly Sec. 17-86d). Policy re provision of emergency shelter in hotels or motels. No state funds appropriated for a special needs benefit for emergency housing for recipients of payments under the temporary family assistance program or state-administered general assistance shall be used to pay the costs of emergency shelter in hotels or motels except in cases of natural or man-made disasters or other catastrophic events.

(P.A. 90-257, S. 1, 17; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 86, 165.)

History: Sec. 17-86d transferred to Sec. 17b-807 in 1995; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced a reference to aid to families with dependent children with temporary family assistance and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997.

Sec. 17b-808. (Formerly Sec. 17-86e). Special needs benefit for emergency housing. Limitation. (a) The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide a special needs benefit for emergency housing to any recipient of payments under the temporary family assistance program and the optional state supplementation program who cannot remain in permanent housing because (1) a judgment has been entered against the recipient in a summary process action instituted pursuant to chapter 832, provided the action was not based on criminal activity, or a judgment has been entered against the recipient in a foreclosure action pursuant to chapter 846; (2) the recipient has left to escape domestic violence; (3) a catastrophic event, such as a fire or flood, has made the permanent housing uninhabitable or the recipient has been ordered to vacate the housing by a local code enforcement official; (4) the recipient shares an apartment with a primary tenant who is being evicted or is engaged in criminal activity; (5) the recipient was illegally locked out by a landlord and has filed a police complaint concerning such lockout; (6) the recipient has been living with a tenant who received a preliminary notice under section 47a-15 or a notice to quit because of termination of a rental agreement for lapse of time; or (7) the family has relocated because a child in the family has been found to have a level of lead in the blood equal to or greater than twenty micrograms per deciliter of blood or any other abnormal body burden of lead and the local director of health has determined, after an epidemiological investigation pursuant to section 19a-111, that the source of the lead poisoning was the residential unit in which the family resided. A person shall be eligible for the benefit under this section provided application is made to the commissioner within forty-five days of the loss of permanent housing by the recipient. On and after September 4, 1991, the benefit shall be limited to not more than one occurrence per calendar year and not more than sixty days per occurrence, except that any family receiving the benefit under this section pursuant to subdivision (7) with a child undergoing chelation treatment may receive the benefit for more than one occurrence provided the total number of days the benefit is received by the family for all occurrences is not more than eighty days in any calendar year. Any person receiving a benefit under this section shall agree to reside in any housing which was constructed, renovated or rehabilitated with state or federal financial assistance. Notwithstanding the provisions of this section, any family receiving the benefit under this section pursuant to subdivision (7) shall not be required to reside in any housing in which the paint contains a toxic level of lead as defined by the Commissioner of Public Health in regulations adopted pursuant to section 19a-111. Under the temporary family assistance program, any person not eligible for the benefit under this section shall be referred to the Department of Social Services' program for emergency shelter services.

(b) The Commissioner of Social Services shall provide for the direct vendor payment of the rent of any recipient of payments under the temporary family assistance program and the optional state supplementation program for whom he has made a finding of mismanagement and who resides in housing where the total rent, or the recipient's share of the total rent, does not exceed thirty per cent of the payment standard, adjusted for region and family size under such program. Any finding of mismanagement by the commissioner shall be in accordance with federal law and regulations concerning mismanagement of funds, except that the commissioner may permit a recipient for whom vendor rent payments would terminate to request an extension of vendor rent payments. Such voluntary vendor rent payments shall be discontinued upon request of the recipient. If there is a rental arrearage at the time vendor rent payments are initiated, the commissioner may deduct from the payment under the temporary family assistance program and the optional state supplementation program an amount not to exceed thirty dollars per month. Such amount shall be used to pay the back rent due, provided recoupment by the department of an overpayment shall be suspended during payment of arrearages to the landlord.

(c) Within ten days of receiving a notice to quit issued pursuant to chapter 832, a recipient of benefits under the temporary family assistance program and the optional state supplementation program shall notify the commissioner of the receipt of such notice. No person shall be denied emergency housing assistance or declared ineligible for any other benefit because of a failure to notify the commissioner.

(P.A. 90-257, S. 6, 17; P.A. 91-237, S. 1, 2; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8, S. 4, 63; P.A. 92-234; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16, S. 4, 89; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 36, 87; 93-333; 93-381, S. 9, 39; 93-418, S. 29, 41; 93-435, S. 59, 95; P.A. 95-210, S. 1, 2; 95-257, S. 12, 21, 58; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 87, 165; P.A. 08-22, S. 1.)

History: P.A. 91-237 amended Subsec. (a) to extend eligibility for the special needs benefit to a recipient who has had a judgment entered against him in a foreclosure action; June Sp. Sess. P.A. 91-8 Subsec. (a) amended the special needs benefit for emergency housing by limiting the benefit to one occurrence per calendar year, not to exceed 80 days per occurrence and deleted provision re reduction in benefits of AFDC recipients by 25% in certain cases; P.A. 92-234 added Subsec. (a)(7) re eligibility for the special needs benefit of families relocated because a child in the family has been found to have lead poisoning; May Sp. Sess. P.A. 92-16 amended Subsec. (a) by reducing the special needs benefit for emergency housing from not more than 80 days per occurrence to not more than 60 days per occurrence; P.A. 93-262 replaced references to commissioner of income maintenance and department of human resources with references to commissioner and department of social services, respectively, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-333 amended Subsec. (a) to prohibit placement of families with children with lead poisoning in housing in which the paint contains a toxic level of lead; P.A. 93-381 and 93-435 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of public health and addiction services for commissioner and department of health services, effective July 1, 1993; P.A. 93-418 made provision of direct vendor payments of rent mandatory rather than discretionary and changed the words “standard of need” to “payment standard”, effective July 1, 1993; Sec. 17-86e transferred to Sec. 17b-808 in 1995; P.A. 95-210 amended Subsec. (a) to provide that a family may receive emergency housing for more than one occurrence if a child in the family is undergoing lead chelation treatment, effective June 27, 1995; P.A. 95-257 replaced Commissioner and Department of Public Health and Addiction Services with Commissioner and Department of Public Health, effective July 1, 1995; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced references to aid to families with dependent children with temporary family assistance and made technical and conforming changes, effective July 1, 1997; P.A. 08-22 amended Subsec. (a)(1) by deleting provision requiring expiration of redemption period for recipient in foreclosure action to be eligible for special needs benefit.

Sec. 17b-809. Plan for informing landlords of rules concerning direct vendor payment of rent. The Commissioner of Social Services shall prepare and implement a plan for informing landlords of the department's rules concerning the direct vendor payment of rents for recipients of temporary family assistance and state supplementation and for responding to landlord inquiries about the availability of such payments, including the circumstances under which such payments will be made and the maximum amounts of such payments.

(P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; 93-418, S. 28, 41; 93-435, S. 59, 95; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 88, 165.)

History: P.A. 93-418 effective July 1, 1993 (Revisor's note: P.A. 93-262 and 93-435 authorized substitution of commissioner and department of social services for commissioner and department of income maintenance, effective July 1, 1993); June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2 replaced a reference to aid to families with dependent children with temporary family assistance, effective July 1, 1997.

Sec. 17b-810. Direct payment of rent to landlord. Section 17b-810 is repealed, effective October 1, 2004.

(P.A. 93-418, S. 30, 41; P.A. 04-76, S. 59.)

Sec. 17b-811. (Formerly Sec. 17-2f). Direct payments to landlords. Section 17b-811 is repealed, effective July 1, 1997.

(1969, P.A. 299, S. 1, 2; 1971, P.A. 808; 1972, P.A. 294, S. 17; P.A. 75-420, S. 4, 6; P.A. 77-614, S. 608, 610; P.A. 93-262, S. 1, 87; June 18 Sp. Sess. P.A. 97-2, S. 164, 165.)

Sec. 17b-811a. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-346a.

Sec. 17b-812. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-345.

Sec. 17b-812a. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-345b.

Sec. 17b-813. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-345a.

Sec. 17b-814. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-346.

Sec. 17b-815. Transferred to Chapter 138a, Sec. 8-345c.

Sec. 17b-816. Provision of free menstrual products by domestic violence agencies that receive state funding. On and after July 1, 2023, each emergency shelter operated by a domestic violence agency, as defined in section 52-146k, that receives state funding shall provide free menstrual products, as defined in section 18-69e, in each restroom of the shelter that is accessible to its residents and in a manner that does not stigmatize any resident seeking such products, pursuant to guidelines established by the Commissioner of Public Health under section 19a-131l. To carry out the provisions of this section, each shelter may (1) accept donations of menstrual products and grants from any source for the purpose of purchasing such products, and (2) partner with a nonprofit or community-based organization.

(P.A. 22-118, S. 87.)

History: P.A. 22-118 effective July 1, 2022.

Secs. 17b-817 to 17b-849. Reserved for future use.

Note: Chapter 319vv is also reserved for future use.