Rochelle: Ansonia receives $400K state grant for housing rehab

This is shared from a press release from state Rep. Kara Rochelle, D-Ansonia/Derby:

I am pleased to share that Ansonia is among the 12 municipalities in Connecticut awarded $13 million in Small Cities Grants through the state's Community Development Block Grant to modernize and rehabilitate housing. Ansonia received a $400,000 grant, which will capitalize its Housing Rehabilitation Program. The program seeks to make health and safety improvements to homes of low and moderate-income community residents. Project repairs will address the needs of 12 to 20 households with code violations to create safer conditions. The city will prioritize homes with health and safety concerns and/or life-threatening conditions. Ansonia residents who are interested in applying for funding should contact Sheila O'Malley at somalley@ansoniact.org, or Anna Andretta at aandretta@ansoniact.org, or call 203-922-3946. This funding is critically important for people who are already strapped for resources and will help fund enhancements to the city's housing stock and increase property values. Thank you to Governor Lamont and Connecticut Housing Commissioner Seila Mosquera-Bruno for allocating resources to improve residents' lives. I am grateful Sheila O'Malley, Ansonia's Director of Economic Development, recognized and pursued this opportunity for Ansonia's hard-working residents. Housing opens doors for our city and its residents. This is wonderful news for our community. Ansonia residents that are interested in applying for funding should contact Sheila O'Malley at somalley@ansoniact.org, or Anna Andretta at aandretta@ansoniact.org, or call 203-922-3946. Read more about the Small Cities program here.

Klarides-Ditria: COVID-19 payment program enrollment date extended

 

Winter Protection Program Also Now in Effect 

Connecticut’s Public Utilities Regulatory Authority (PURA) is reminding all customers the enrollment period for the COVID-19 Payment Program for both residential and non-residential customers is extended through at least Feb. 9, 2021. 

Further, the Winter Protection Program, which protects eligible households against heat source shut-offs during the winter months, is also in effect from Nov. 1, 2020 through May 1, 2021.

PURA encourages customers experiencing difficulty paying their utility bills to contact their utility company and ask:
First, whether the residential customer is eligible to be “coded hardship” and enrolled in the Winter Protection Program.
Second, if ineligible for hardship status or a non-residential customer, to enroll in a COVID-19 Payment Plan.

All customers with past due balances are eligible to avoid utility shut-offs by enrolling in one of the programs provided by the state-regulated water, electric and gas utilities, Operation Fuel, or the Connecticut Department of Social Services (DSS).

Importantly, no customer actively enrolled in a COVID-19 Payment Program can have their service terminated for non-payment. 

COVID-19 payment plans are available to any residential or non-residential customer requesting assistance, without demonstrating financial need; require no initial or down payment, can be up to 24 months in length; waive any fees or interest in the calculation of the monthly payment amount; and facilitate the repayment of the past due balances in addition to the customer’s monthly bill.

For more information, contact your utility or PURA’s Consumer Affairs.


This is a press release from state Rep. Nicole Klarides-Ditria, R-Seymour.