Quick Facts: Connecticut
Performance Breakdown
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Law & Policy: 69% of metrics met
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Laws authorizing comprehensive supports and services for youth experiencing homelessness: 83% of metrics met
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Preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with the criminal and juvenile justice systems: 43% of metrics met
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Providing unaccompanied youth experiencing homelessness the opportunity to seek legal independence and live independently: 88% of metrics met
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Addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness: 100% of metrics met
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Allowing youth experiencing homelessness to access critical supports and services: 72% of metrics met
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Systems: 72% of metrics met
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Environment: 71% of metrics met
State Score 2022: 70
State Ranking 2022: 7
2022 Score
2021 Score
78
70
Connecticut Highlights
Some areas where Connecticut has moved the needle relative to other states include addressing the educational needs of youth experiencing homelessness and elevating the voices of youth who have experienced homelessness by working with them throughout policy development.
Law & Policy
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The state explicitly allows partial and alternative school credit accrual for homeless youth through regulations.
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State law provides partial or full contract rights for youth experiencing homelessness.
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The state allows unaccompanied youth under 18 to apply for health insurance coverage on their own.
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The state has extended foster care to age 23 in certain circumstances and allows young adults to opt back into services after exiting if needed.
Systems
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There is a current state plan to end homelessness that contains youth-specific strategy components.
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The state has systems in place to address proof of residency requirements to receive a state-issued identification card and allows youth to obtain state-issued identification without parental consent.
Environment
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The state maintains a self-governing youth action board or council that informs youth homelessness policy.
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The state has banned conversion therapy for minors on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity or expression.
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The state promotes safe and inclusive environments in child welfare, juvenile justice, and runaway and homeless youth programs by providing protections based on sexual orientation and gender identity.
Recommendations for Improvement
There is room for improvement throughout the metrics for the Constitution State, particularly in preventing youth experiencing homelessness from coming into contact with criminal and juvenile justice systems.
Law & Policy
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The state should allow minors, regardless of their legal status, to consent to examination and treatment relating to a sexual assault without parental consent.
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The state should explicitly allow youth experiencing homelessness to use SNAP benefits to buy hot restaurant or prepared meals.
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Decriminalize runaway youth as delinquent or a status offenders.
Systems
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Create a state entity – such as an Office of Homeless Youth Services – that focuses solely on designing, implementing, and evaluating youth homelessness programs.
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As part of the state plan to prevent and end youth homelessness, include a strategy to address homelessness among LGBTQ youth.
Environment
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The state should require training about sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, healthy sexual development or issues specific to LGBTQ+ youth for staff working in RHY Systems.