Bethany homeowner tax credits applications

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BETHANY – Applications for tax credits for homeowners over 65 years of age and those totally disabled will be taken at the Assessor’s office between 9 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. beginning Feb. 1 to May 15.

The Elderly Homeowners Program is a real estate tax credit program for homeowners who are at least 65 years of age as of Dec. 31 and meet certain income guidelines.Those guidelines require that annual income for single people, including Social Security benefits, should not exceed $32,300. Married couples can be eligible if their income, including Social Security benefits, does not exceed $ 39,500.

Applicants should bring all proof of their 2011 income including a copy of their 2011 Income tax return, if filing, and proof of Social Security income (Form 1099). Also, the applicant must own and reside at the property for which tax relief is sought, or must hold a tenancy for life use of the property and be liable for the tax bill. This must be the applicant’s principal or legal residence.

For more on this story, visit: Bethany homeowner tax credits applications  | News Briefs Jan. 26 – News – The Bulletin.

Study raises concerns about how standardized test are done in the state

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A study released Thursday suggests that increases in standardized test scores are, to some degree, dependent on the exclusion of disabled students from those tests.

Connecticut Voices for Children, an advocacy and educational public policy think-tank, released a study concluding that, due to a 2009 shift in federal and state policy, disabled students were excluded from the Connecticut Mastery Test, which caused a significant jump in test scores state-wide.

In 2009, a federal ruling allowed states to create a modified standardized assessment for students with disabilities. In Connecticut, that resulted in a modified assessment and, according to Robert Cotto, senior policy fellow with Connecticut Voices for Children, that shift accounts for much of the gains made in CMT scores that year.

For more on this story, visit: Connecticut Voices for Children study raises concerns about how standardized test are done in the state (document) – News – The Bulletin.

CT Health Foundation says faith-based groups key to ending ‘scream rooms’ | The Middletown Press

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Since awareness of time-out rooms in public schools came to light to many earlier this month, numerous child and education advocacy groups long against their use came to the forefront decrying and calling for an end to their use.

While calls for their closure abound, alternatives as to what to do with the most unruly and violent students are not as forthcoming.

For more on this story, visit: CT Health Foundation says faith-based groups key to ending ‘scream rooms’ – The Middletown Press : Serving Middletown, CT.

Advocates concerned about possible Medicaid cuts | Connecticut Post

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A Department of Social Services effort to pare back a program that gives Medicaid benefits to low-income single adults has been decried by health advocates who say it undermines efforts to provide more people with health coverage.

In October, DSS Commissioner Roderick Bremby wrote to the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services office in Boston, asking for a waiver to change the low-income adult program, making it more difficult to qualify for coverage and allowing the state to cap enrollment. In Bremby’s letter, he said the program as it exists is financially unsustainable.

For more on this story, visit: Advocates concerned about possible Medicaid cuts – Connecticut Post.

Despite Cerebral Palsy, Business Owner Succeeds | Oxford, CT Patch

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Everyone faces challenges in their lives but 33 year old Matthew Smith of Woodbury, owner of Litchfield County Computer, LLC, was born with cerebral palsy and has faced more than most. Yet, Smith has not let his condition get in his way.

Smith started his computer care business in 2004 and now has about 200 clients in Oxford, Danbury, Brookfield, Woodbury, Southbury and Middlebury.

For more on this story, visit: Despite Cerebral Palsy, Business Owner Succeeds – Oxford, CT Patch.

Workers locked out at Milford nursing home – Connecticut Post

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MILFORD — Unionized nursing home employees locked out of their jobs at West River Health Care Center walked in front of the Orange Avenue facility Tuesday, protesting the action. Many of them wore signs stating they had been locked out. Occasionally, chants of “corporate greed” and other mantras would emanate from the crowd of employees.

For more on this story, visit: Workers locked out at Milford nursing home – Connecticut Post.

Call for Submissions: The Art of Children, Adolescents and Young Adults — Touched by Mental Illness

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The National Alliance on Mental Illnesses of Connecticut (NAMI-CT) and Young Audiences of Connecticut, an affiliate of VSA,(YAC/VSA) are joining forces to raise awareness and bring hope to children, adolescents and young adults who have been ‘touched in some way by mental illness.’

For the purposes of this exhibit ‘touched’ in some way by mental Illness means that either you or a friend, family member or acquaintance is living with mental illness and that person has had a significant impact on your life.

For the purposes of this exhibit ‘mental Illness’ is defined as any of the following: Attention deficit/Hyperactive disorder (ADHD), Anxiety disorders, Bi-Polar disorder (manic depression), Depression, Obsessive – Compulsive Disorder (OCD) or Schizophrenia.

For more on this story, visit: VOICES Call for Art « VSA Connecticut.

Advocates Crash Meeting about Personal Care Assistants’ Bargaining Rights

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Advocates for disabled people and the constitution crashed the first meeting Friday of an executive working group tasked with finding the best way for personal care assistants to collectively bargain.

At issue are two executive orders signed by Gov. Dannel P. Malloy in September that provide a path for state day care workers and personal care attendants to organize and gain collective bargaining rights.

The orders established working groups to make recommendations to the governor regarding the best way to structure bargaining rights for the groups.

For more on this story, visit: CT News Junkie | Advocates Crash Meeting.

Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness Monthly Newsletter

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CCEH News

New Community Impact Staff on the Ground in New Haven, Bridgeport and Norwalk.CCEH welcomes Sarah Petela and Chelsea Ross to our team… Learn more about our new team members here.

Internships at the Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness. We are accepting applications for 2012 Spring Internships… More Information

State Updates

HPRP, Still Going As of September 30, 2011, the HPRP statewide has served 2,476 households in prevention and 958 households in rapid re-housing. The Department of Social Services has increased support to Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-housing Programs around the State. Currently, all HPR programs have rapid re-housing services available. Applicants can call 2-1-1 or 1-800-203-1234 to connect to appropriate services.

System wide outcomes are beginning to take shape with updates on returns to shelter from HPRP, length of stay pre and post HPRP data— coming soon.

HPRP Success in Capitol Region A 57 year-old single male with an extensive history of substance abuse applied to the program. After years of struggling with addition and homelessness he entered in-patient rehabilitation services. After being successfully discharged from the program he had nowhere to stay so he ended up in a shelter. He had difficulty finding a landlord that would rent to him due to his history of multiple evictions and criminal history. Within a week of entering the shelter HPRP accepted him into the program and helped him find affordable housing. His case manager was able to get him on a Shelter + Care list. He is currently in a job training program through Easter Seals where he is earning income and gaining the skills that will lead to permanent employment. He has received a Shelter + Care housing certificate and is stably housed.

A 26 year old woman with four young children applied to the program. After being evicted from their apartment the mother was living in her car and her children were staying with various family members. With her poor credit and eviction history she was unable to find a landlord that would rent to her. She found an apartment that was affordable but they were hesitant to accept her until the case manager spoke with the landlord. They were able to create a plan between the three of them where she was able to move in. The woman is now working full time and the family is reunited.

For more of the CCEH Newsletter, visit  e-News November/December 2011.

Conn. disabled community upset with Malloy message – Courant.com

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HARTFORD, Conn.— Gov. Dannel P. Malloy’s Thanksgiving message to residents of Connecticut on Wednesday was not appreciated by some members of the disabled community who said they’re offended by the wording, which describes them as “residents afflicted with handicaps” who are “hovering on the edges of our society.”

The paragraph that offended some is near the bottom, where it states how “it is bad that some of our fellow residents are afflicted with handicaps that make their lives immeasurably difficult, and leave them hovering on the edges of our society.” It goes on to say that “it is good that we have service providers who work tirelessly and selflessly to care for and comfort them. To bring them hope where maybe they have only felt hopelessness.”

For more on this story, visit: Conn. disabled community upset with Malloy message – Courant.com.