NEWINGTON — The federal government has declared Connecticut the first state in the country to end chronic homelessness among veterans.
Gov. Dan Malloy announced the milestone Thursday with U.S. Veterans Affairs Secretary Robert McDonald and other federal, state and local officials at a veterans' housing development in Newington.
Officials say all known veterans experiencing chronic homelessness in the state either have housing or are on an immediate path to permanent housing. Chronic homelessness is defined as being homeless for at least one year or being homeless at least four times in the past three years.
Advocates last year estimated there were more than 500 homeless veterans in Connecticut. A statewide survey in February found 282 homeless veterans, including 18 experiencing chronic homelessness.
