Jacqueline Rabe Thomas

@ctinsider.bsky.social @jrabethomas.bsky.social asked unhoused poeple to share what life is like & what would help them the most

These stories remind us homelessness isn’t just a statistic - if we want to understand, we have to listen to the people living it

📰 www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

134 unhoused people have died in CT this year. Here are some of their stories. Some who were homeless died from the cold. Others died when their cars caught fire, or they were struck by vehicles. Our obits shine a light on who they were.

"Since the start of the year, at least 134 unhoused people have died. Only two lived long enough to reach the state’s average life expectancy — a sobering reminder of how fragile life can be without stable housing." www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

Amid housing shortage, CT spends millions managing homelessness other ways Amid a housing shortage, Connecticut is spending millions managing homelessness through foster care, jails and ERs. Lawmakers say the issue can be solved.

"A monthslong investigation ... found impossibly long waitlists for housing assistance coupled with an underresourced state housing crisis hotline that frequently turns away dozens of people seeking emergency shelter."

Incredible work by @jrabethomas.bsky.social. www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

48 hours of homelessness in CT: The faces and stories of a growing crisis With affordable housing hard to find in Connecticut, the number of people who are homeless — young and old, in cities and towns — is rising fast.

Really proud to have contributed to this package of stories on homelessness across Connecticut that published today, spearheaded by my amazing CT Insider colleague @jrabethomas.bsky.social. www.ctinsider.com/projects/new... #nutmegsky

Amid housing shortage, CT spends millions managing homelessness other ways Amid a housing shortage, Connecticut is spending millions managing homelessness through foster care, jails and ERs. Lawmakers say the issue can be solved.

And @jrabethomas.bsky.social expertly explored how public policy in Connecticut contributes directly to this crisis
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

134 unhoused people have died in CT this year. Here are some of their stories. Some who were homeless died from the cold. Others died when their cars caught fire, or they were struck by vehicles. Our obits shine a light on who they were.

A group of reporters also profiled people in Connecticut who have died while homeless, from a newborn baby to a 67-year-old whose car caught fire
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

48 hours of homelessness in CT: The faces and stories of a growing crisis With affordable housing hard to find in Connecticut, the number of people who are homeless — young and old, in cities and towns — is rising fast.

Highly, highly recommend this project from a team of us at @ctinsider.bsky.social, led by the incomparable @jrabethomas.bsky.social.

Over two days, reporters fanned across CT to tell the story of homelessness here.

I promise you will learn something.
www.ctinsider.com/projects/new...

Thanks!

"It doesn't read like 12,500 words. The other editors agree."

They get me.

State

Public agencies can - & are - destroying public records & there is nothing the state watchdog that determines if records must be released can do about it.

No fines. No ordering agency to change policy to retain records. No violation of open records law.

Nothing.

And that should scare everyone.

CT nonprofit named in federal probe shut down due to finances, lawyer says The Hartford nonprofit, which has been named in a federal investigation surrounding state Sen. Doug McCrory, said it has effectively closed.

An organization that landed more than $14 million in state funding says it shouldn't have to turn over records anytime soon that would provide clarity to how the money was spent because they have effectively shut down.

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40% of marriages in Bridgeport were between an immigrant and a U.S. citizen, neither of whom were born in Connecticut or lived here at the time they received their marriage license

Connecticut state senator pressed state officials to steer money to associate State Sen. Doug McCrory pushed for millions for a Hartford nonprofit. As much as $800,000 went to his associate's organization, records show.

"Senator McCrory called (ed department's budget chief) and would like the full $2 million released now"

At least $250k of that went to a woman who federal investigators are looking into whether the senator is in a personal relationship with

www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

Hearst management continues to violate the law by changing our working conditions without bargaining.

Today, employees gathered for lunch at our different offices and asked a simple question of the company:

We’re ready to bargain. Why aren’t you?

Lunch! #meetusatthetable

Federal probe into state senator’s relationship brings investigators to Bloomfield home An owner of the property in Bloomfield, Dana Higgins, said federal investigators reached out to her recently.

Federal investigators have interviewed the owner of a home in Bloomfield as they probe the relationship between state Sen. Doug McCrory and Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin, whose businesses and nonprofit have landed millions from the state.

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

The long wait for public records in CT ....

Feds probing CT lawmaker's relationship with state-funding recipient, records show. 'I did nothing illegal' State Sen. Doug McCrory and Sonserae Cicero-Hamlin have said neither has benefited financially from their relationship.

Come for the story about no money made it to low income homeowners, stay for this quote from a state senator under investigation

"I might have multiple girlfriends. I might not want the public to know who I am sleeping with and where I’m going."

www.ctinsider.com/news/article...

A local non-profit that pays for roof repairs & other home repairs for low-income homeowners in Hartford questioned why the $2.5 million in state funding had to pass through Blue Hills Civic Association – and why Blue Hills was keeping 80% of that money.

Federal prosecutors have questions, too

But shout out to all those public employees who still act in good faith.

The public's right to know? CT's open records system is broken.

That's the tweet.

Ending Crime and Disorder on America's Streets By the authority vested in me as President by the Constitution and the laws of the United States of America, it is hereby ordered: Section 1.  Purpose and

"Shifting homeless individuals into long-term institutional settings for humane treatment through the appropriate use of civil commitment will restore public order. "
www.whitehouse.gov/presidential...

CT legislators pass bills to prevent lavish spending by state workers Connecticut lawmakers approved two bills prompted by a CT Insider investigation that found questionable spending by the CSCU chancellor.

CT legislators approve bills to prevent lavish spending by state employees after CSCU controversy www.ctinsider.com/connecticut/...

Ok Google: play Brass Bonanza, volume 10

www.google.com/url?sa=t&sou...

Gov. Lamont: sometimes the answer isn't more money for schools, touts Connecticut spending more than most states.

Data:

Share of state spending on overall K-12 spending: 6th LOWEST in the country

Local property taxes paying for schools: 2nd HIGHEST in U.S.

nces.ed.gov/programs/dig...

📣 "Some of the state’s wealthiest districts employ one certified teacher for every 11 students, many of its poorest school systems can afford only one teacher for every 14 students."

CT demands Hartford nonprofit return state aid amid theft concerns Leaders of a Hartford nonprofit waited months to notify state officials of an alleged cyber theft of $300,000 in taxpayer-funded grants, records show.

A $300k state grant was stolen, so nearly everyone at this Hartford nonprofit that has received $8 million in state aid this year was laid off.

Leaders of the org didn't tell the state or their board of the theft for 3 months.

www.ctpost.com/connecticut/...

“Terrible things are happening outside. Poor helpless people are being dragged out of their homes. Families are torn apart. Men, women, and children are separated. Children come home from school to find that their parents have disappeared.”

Diary of Anne Frank
January 13, 1943

Tell Hearst Connecticut to play fair with journalists The Connecticut News Guild needs your help!

Tell Hearst CT to play fair with journalists actionnetwork.org/letters/tell...