Julie Kushner

Senator Kushner, Housing Commissioner Mosquera-Bruno to Hold Press Conference Supporting Housing Aid as Unite CT Bus Visits Danbury on October 10

UniteCT Bus Visiting Danbury October 10, 14 To Connect Residents In Need With Financial Housing Support

On October 10 at 11 a.m., State Senator Julie Kushner (D-Danbury) and Department of Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquero-Bruno will hold a press conference in conjunction with a day-long event designed to help Danbury area residents struggling financially in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic gain access to housing support and rental assistance provided by the state. The UniteCT mobile bus will be parked at C-Town Supermarket at 45 North Street in Danbury from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., this Sunday, October 10th. Volunteers and staff will be on hand to answer questions about the program and help people fill out applications. The press conference will take place on-site at C-Town.

With two visits to the Danbury area on October 10 and October 14, the UniteCT Bus will provide assistance and spread the word about available housing assistance support that tenants and landlords in need can access. The UniteCT program, administered by the Department of Housing, provides up to $15,000 in rental and electricity payment assistance on behalf of Connecticut households financially impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. Households earning up to 80% of area median income, in the Danbury area, meaning those earning less than $57,050 annually in a household of one and $81,500 in a household of four, are eligible. Thus far, according to the UniteCT online portal, over $110 million in assistance has been distributed, with another $99.8 million of payments in progress.

“So many working families are struggling or are behind in rent because of the COVID-19 pandemic and our neighbors and their landlords need some help,” said Sen. Kushner. “The State of Connecticut is distributing financial assistance through the UniteCT program, but I’m afraid many people don’t know about the program, or have not been able to complete their application. It’s great that the Department of Housing is coming directly to our community to help folks access this program. This once in a life-time pandemic hit people hard – paying the rent for hard-working people who got behind through no fault of their own is a great way to ensure we get through this together.”

“UniteCT has helped thousands of households impacted financially by the pandemic, since we’ve launched back in March. The mobile bus has been a tool to provide direct assistance those communities that may be experiencing a technological divide, or to see individuals and families that just feel more at ease about speaking to someone person to person, in addition to the 16 resource centers around the state, and the Call Center”, said Seila Mosquera-Bruno, Commissioner of the Department of Housing. “We know that many households are still struggling to regain financial stability as we continue to move toward recovery. We still have work to do, and will deliver those resources to the households in need.”

On October 10, the UniteCT bus will visit the C-Town Supermarket at 45 North Street in Danbury from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m Numerous volunteers will be on hand to help get the word out about UniteCT and available funding for those in need, ready to assist English- and Spanish-speaking residents with information and applications. Residents can schedule appointments at this link; appointments are prioritized but walk-ins are welcome.

The UniteCT bus will make a second visit to Danbury on Thursday, October 14 at Kennedy Park, on Kennedy Avenue, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., continuing to offer support and assistance to members of the community.