Supportive Housing
Contact:
Kim Somaroo-Rodriguez, MSW
Program Manager
Supportive Housing
DCF Central Office
505 Hudson Street 8th Floor
Hartford, CT 06106
Office: 860-560-7078
Cell: 860-538-2976
Fax: 860-560-7066
e-mail: s.kim.somaroo@ct.gov
For Wait List Status information, Contact:
The Connection Inc.
Admissions Department
(860) 343 -5500 Ext. 2104 or 2105
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DCF ‘s Supportive Housing for Families (SHF) provides housing services and intensive case management services to DCF families where lack of appropriate housing present a barrier to reunification. The SHF program also prevents children from being removed from their families due to inadequate housing or homelessness. The program has existed for over 18 years and serves over 500 families and 1,000 children annually. Program services can last up to 2 years and include monthly budgeting, monthly safety inspection of home, referral to services, and coordination of services for parents and children, and housing assistance funds.
Through DCF’s partnership with the Dept. of Housing, we have seen over a 100 children a year return home to their families through successful service and housing certificates provision. This nationally recognized model is promising in its ability to eliminate the family’s need for child protective services again and improving the overall function and well-being of the family and reducing costs across systems.
The Department of Children and Families contracts with the Connections, Inc to provide services to over 500 families a year. The SHF case manager works closely with the DCF social worker to provide intensive case management services to assist families to develop and utilize a network of services in the following areas:
a. substance abuse treatment / recovery support
b. mental health treatment / support
c. childcare / parenting / family supports / transportation
d. employment / education
e. daily living skills / housing
f. healthcare / medical needs / disability benefits.
Outcomes: SHF has been highly effective at reunifying families preventing the removal of children, achievement of stable housing and also contributes to
1) reducing rates of repeat maltreatment and re-entry into DCF care,
2) increasing the number of children's needs met, and
3) reducing the utilization of out of home care for these families.