If the latest winter storm has you wondering how you will be able to pay your home-heating bills, find out if you’re eligible for the Connecticut Energy Assistance Program. In Central Connecticut, individuals and families can apply through the Community Renewal Team (CRT).
“Good Morning Connecticut Weekend” with Sarah Cody on WTNH News 8 shared details about this money-saving program, and how households can apply now.
Due to the extreme cold temperatures, Governor Ned Lamont activated Connecticut’s “severe cold weather protocol” for this last weekend in January (thru Sunday, Jan. 31, 2021 at noon). The homeless or those in need of emergency shelter services or warming centers to get out of the cold are urged to call 2-1-1 right away to be connected to local services in their city or town.
Samaia Hernandez from WTNH News 8 spoke with CRT about emergency services available to help people in need:
On Friday, January 15, more than 100 residents and staff at CRT’s unique assisted-living facility in Hartford, The Retreat, received their 1st dose of the COVID-19 vaccine in a special clinic with Walgreen’s that went door to door to administer this special “Shot of Hope.”
NBC Connecticut was there to see this milestone event:
After losing one of the trucks in its fleet of custom delivery vehicles last year due to an accident, CRT was proud to show its brand new Meals on Wheels truck, complete with red bow, for the first time. This vehicle and custom chassis that holds hot, nutritious meals for homebound seniors was purchased with the support of donations from the local community.
Fox 61’s Keith McGilvery and Margaux Farrell spoke with CRT’s Director of Nutrition, Gariann Chiarella, about the new truck and what it means to this vital program for seniors throughout Central Connecticut.
The City of Hartford is partnering with Hartford Public Schools and community organizations to offer Remote Learning Hub locations across the city, including the Community Renewal Team. The CRT Hub will be hosted at the Ritter Child Development Center located at 555 Windsor St., Hartford.
This program is administered by Hartford’s Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation and designed for families that selected in‐person learning for their children and may be adversely impacted by COVID‐19‐related facility closures.
Get more information in this report by Dominique Moody from NBC Connecticut:
Additional reporting about this new program, in Spanish, is available from Telemundo Nueva Inglaterra.
CRT’s Communications Director, Jason Black, joined morning host Gary Byron (shown above) on the Talk of Connecticut (WDRC 1360 AM) to share multiple updates about CRT programs and services, including:
Give a listen over on Facebook to find out more.
Do you need FREE and SAFE in-person learning options for your child enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 3 remote learning in Hartford? Starting this month, CRT and other community organizations in partnership with the City of Hartford will provide Remote Learning Hubs for children (K – 3rd) in Hartford. This program is designed for families that selected in‐person learning for their children and may be adversely impacted by COVID‐19‐related facility closures.
CRT spoke with Angelo Bavaro from Fox 61 about this new program and how your family can sign up now.
Also, at the end of this interview there are details about CRT’s new partnership with Liberty Bank to offer the Community Asset Building Initiative (CABI) to help people achieve the dream of home ownership.
Beginning January 2021
Do you need FREE and SAFE in-person learning options for your child enrolled in Kindergarten to Grade 3 remote learning in Hartford?
The City of Hartford is partnering with Hartford Public Schools and community organizations to offer learning hub locations across the city, including at CRT’s Ritter Child Development Center located at 555 Windsor St., Hartford (entrance off Pavilion St.).
This program is administered by Hartford’s Department of Families, Children, Youth and Recreation and designed for families that selected in‐person learning for their children and may be adversely impacted by COVID‐19‐related facility closures.
To be eligible, your child must:
For more information about how to enroll, please contact Leslie Giordano at (860) 560‐5461 ext.231 or [email protected]
This program is funded in part with Community Development Block Grant funds allocated to CRT by the City of Hartford and supported by the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving.
The Community Renewal Team (CRT) in partnership with Liberty Bank is pleased to announce the availability of a unique “Community Asset Building Initiative” (CABI) to help people in Hartford and Middlesex Counties achieve financial independence and security as they save money for future home ownership.
Qualified individuals will enroll in a special online training course with CRT financial counselors. Upon the successful completion of all 10 modules in this course, along with opening a special CABI savings account through Liberty Bank, those individuals will be eligible to receive up to a one-to-one match of $1,000 from Liberty Bank to help them achieve the dream of owning their own home.
The CABI program offers participants incentive savings matches, personal and money management education, peer and staff support, and individual counseling to make asset ownership attainable.
For those individuals who qualify for the CABI savings accounts, Liberty Bank agrees to offer an interest-bearing savings account, paying at least a market rate of interest, as detailed in Liberty Bank’s Personal Deposit Account Agreement (PDAA). This account will be free from service charges or any other charges for all individuals that CRT accepts as a CABI participant.
CRT will help to monitor CABI program participants’ monthly savings activity in an effort to help them reach their savings goals and ultimately become successful long-term asset owners.
How do you enroll in the CABI Program?
Admission in the CABI program does require a pre-application, and qualified participants will be added to the program on a rolling basis. The first 10 people to successfully complete the course requirements and establish and maintain their CABI savings account will receive the $1,000 matching grant from Liberty Bank.
Individuals that are interested in participating in this unique asset-building initiative should visit the CABI page for more information.
Access Health CT has extended the 2021 annual Open Enrollment period amid the Coronavirus pandemic until January 15, 2021, providing more time for Connecticut residents to get covered in the New Year. If you sign up for health insurance through Access Health CT by Jan. 15 your coverage will begin on February 1, 2021.
Learn more in this report from Christine Stuart from NBC Connecticut.
