Kissel, R-Enfield, said he had only heard about the shortfall this week, but intends to raise it with GOP leadership in an attempt to find money when lawmakers return later this month. "It cuts a key rope in the safety net," Kissel said. "I'm hoping it was an inadvertent mistake.
" Green, however, said he wasn't so sure, but declined to say whether he thought it was willful neglect by legislative leaders. "We have not made housing a priority in this state," he said, adding that at the start of the legislative session in January, he and House leaders had targeted $120 million for housing but the amount was reduced drastically, down to the $10 million approved in the budget. David Keysey, executive director of the Seymour Housing Authority, said in a phone interview Tuesday, that the board tonight will meet to decide what to do about a projected loss of $67,688, which would have gone to the town as a payment in lieu of taxes.
Keysey said he has calculated the rise in rents at about $45 to cover the loss of state funding, but the authority is limited to only a $25 increase annually and rents went up $20 in January. "We're trying to maintain these as economical as possible to keep the rents low," he said, adding that the highest base rent for low-income residents is $340 a month for a three-bedroom apartment. "Certainly the decreasing state support is going to have an adverse affect," Keysey said.
"There are some serious problems throughout the state." Kevin Nelson, executive director of the Stratford Housing Authority, said Tuesday that if the funding is withheld, base-rate rents will go up $97 per month on the $305 price of a one-bedroom apartment at Meadowview Manor. Nelson said that every year rents go up to cover increased expenses.
"As far as I'm concerned the Legislature doesn't pay attention to public housing," Nelson said. He doubts that lawmakers inadvertently forgot about the funding. "It wasn't an oversight," he said.
"They knew it. It hurts the towns." A spokesman for Gov.
Jodi Rell said Tuesday that she will ask the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority to find discretionary funding. "The governor is going to look into the possibility of covering the gap using funds transferred from CHFA under their investment trust-fund account," Chris Cooper said. "It would be an appropriate use.
" Looney, D-New Haven, said Tuesday that he'd have to confer with his caucus to determine whether there is a desire to help the public housing complexes "and whether these cities and towns themselves could find a way to make these programs whole or entertain other options besides a rent increase." , who covers the Capitol, can be reached at (860) 549-4670. Kissel, R-Enfield, said he had only heard about the shortfall this week, but intends to raise it with GOP leadership in an attempt to find money when lawmakers return later this month.
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