Connecticut re-entry programs forced to reevaluate services after state, federal cuts

Desmond Milligan · August 19

NEW BRITAIN, Conn. (WTNH) — Leaders of re-entry programs for individuals leaving incarceration across Connecticut said they are growing worried for the future of their programs, as state and federal funding scales back.

Operating a handful of re-entry programs across the state, Community Partners in Action CEO Beth Hines says programs out of Hartford and Waterbury serve close to 1,000 people annually. Up until now, she’s had to cap services due to fiscal restraints.

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A combination of federal funds through the American Rescue Plan Act has been able to sustain programs for the past four years, until now. Paired with a scale back of $1.5 million normally allocated by the state, Hines said it’s led to some difficult decisions.

“We will not be able to serve the amount of people we have in the past. It would be impossible,” Hines said.

In a statement sent to News 8, Connecticut Speaker of the House Matt Ritter (D-1) said, “The re-entry program center funding was previously covered by federal COVID funds. Our goal remains to bring this issue up during any future special session.”

In response to state cuts, State Rep. Tammy Nuccio (R-53), the ranking member of the Appropriations Committee, says in a statement sent to News 8:

“Only Democrats who wrote and passed the $55 billion budget can explain their funding priorities. Make no mistake: Democrats are targeting the state’s spending cap. Their choices this fall — intentions of exceeding the spending limit — threatens to further dismantle our fiscal controls and push us toward fiscal irresponsibility that will make our state even less affordable.”

However, Hines said the damage has already been done as her team has laid off staff and scaled back program referrals for this year.

“The challenge is, if I don’t have year one, how do I get to year two,” Hines said. “We told the department we can accommodate one drop off per week until, or unless, we receive the funding we need.”

At New Life II in New Britain, Pastor Dana Smith said while he hasn’t accessed COVID funding, he may have to re-evaluate his re-entry programming moving forward if state funding doesn’t kick in soon.

“Recovery centers and places like us, we want people to start living because (program participants) know how to survive. We don’t want recidivism, we don’t want them going back to jail,” Smith said.

Volunteer Luis Malave of the center said being able to access services like their respite program was a lifesaver, after dealing with months of struggles that come with being homeless.

“I was like many out there, I was lost, on drugs, on the streets, doing stuff that were not normal,” Malave said. “They really support, it’s non-judgmental, very caring.”

Now working at the center to help others in need, he says knowing other programs that helped him might be on the line to fill the gap in funding needed to sustain re-entry services is a tough reality to see.

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