Religious organizations in communities with populations of 25,000 or more (such as Greenwich) would be allowed to set up temporary homeless shelters on their properties under legislation in the legislative Planning and Development Committee.
The bill, which next heads to the floor of the House, was pushed through by majority Democrats who control the panel with a 13-8 edge. Republicans voted against the bill after warning it could change the character of communities as reported by the Greenwich Time.
Republicans say no. Sen. Ryan Fazio of Greenwich, a ranking Republican on the panel, said the legislation would created a "quality-of-life" problem for towns and cities, as there would be nothing to prevent homeless shelters from suddenly popping up. "There is no restriction to say that these temporary homeless shelters couldn't end up in residential neighborhoods, just 10-foot setback from yards where kids are playing."
Democrats say yes. Democrats said that whatever can be done to help the needs of the homeless is good for the state, overall. "This bill will create more housing," said Sen. MD Rahman, D-Manchester, co-chairman of the committee. "We have a moral obligation as a legislature providing for the people who desperately need a place to live. People cannot afford to pay for health care, food or shelter. We have a moral obligation to find a place for those people to live."
Alarming data. Rep. Eleni Kavros Degraw, D-Avon, committee co-chairwoman, said there are 1,000 state residents who sleep outside every night, and in Fairfield County, there are about 30 who are children. "We have 4,000 people living in shelters. We can't get them transitioning out of the shelters. We have a significant amount of people who are over the age of 55," she said.
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