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Thursday, November 21, 2024

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Federal inquiry traces payments from Gaetz to women; a new Florida-Puerto Rico partnership poised to transform higher-ed landscape; MT joins Tribes to target Canadian mining pollution; Heart health plummets in rural SD and nationwide; CO working families would pay more under Trump tax proposals.

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Transgender rights in Congress, a historic win for Utah's youngest elected official, scrutiny of Democratic Party leadership, and the economic impact of Trump's tax proposals highlight America's shifting political and social landscape.

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The CDC has a new plan to improve the health of rural Americans, updated data could better prepare folks for flash floods like those that devastated Appalachia, and Native American Tribes could play a key role in the nation's energy future.

Poll: Homelessness is important issue for CT, US voters

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Monday, November 4, 2024   

A new poll shows homelessness is an important issue to voters in Connecticut and nationwide.

The National Alliance to End Homelessness' latest poll shows it is a top issue for voters, behind the economy and crime. Connecticut saw an eight-year drop in homelessness, but the last two point-in-time snapshots indicate it is growing again.

Ann Oliva, CEO of the National Alliance to End Homelessness, said voters across the political spectrum want to address the root causes of homelessness rather than have punitive policies.

"We see folks starting to understand the connection between housing affordability and homelessness in a different way," Oliva explained. "Homelessness is the result of systemic inequities and systemic challenges, and not about individual decisions."

A commonly sought solution for homelessness is building more affordable housing, which elected officials and candidates at different levels of government are discussing. Vice President Kamala Harris is proposing an expansion of the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit and incentives for builders selling to first-time homebuyers. Former President Donald Trump wants to open federal lands to build more affordable housing and shut out illegal immigrants, though home loans for that population are rare.

However, misunderstandings about homelessness could prevent solutions from being realized. Among voters and elected officials, Oliva noted there are misconceptions about homelessness stemming from a person's choices only, not other systemic issues. She pointed out another misconception is about the connection between homelessness and crime.

"People who are experiencing homelessness are more often the victims of crimes rather than the perpetrators," Oliva stressed. "When those two issues get conflated, it really seeks to dehumanize people who are experiencing really traumatic parts of their lives."

Given how each level of government affects homelessness, Oliva feels the election has high stakes for how the issue is shaped going forward. Since many government institutions might have an assortment of Democrats and Republicans in charge, she said they must come together to develop solutions for ending homelessness.

"We have to find places where we can find some common ground and really educate our elected officials about not only what their constituents want, but what actually works to end homelessness in their communities," Oliva emphasized.


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