Comprised of two branches: PILOTS and Next Steps. PILOTS provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to individuals and families with disabilities in Middlesex County. Next Steps provides permanent scattered site supportive housing to individuals who have substance abuse or mental health issues in Middlesex County.

Our mission is to provide subsidized housing to individuals who are chronically homeless or at risk of becoming homeless as a result of chemical dependency and/or psychiatric disability.

The Next Steps branch is a collaboration of The Connection Inc, the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services and Social Services collective efforts for to provide effective housing and social services for individuals. The programs capacity is 10 individuals with severe and prolonged mental health and/or chronic chemical dependency who are chronically homeless or at risk of homelessness and who have incomes at or below 50% of area median income. Dept of Social Services allocated 10 Rental Assistance Program (RAP) certificates in order to provide rental subsidies to assist these individuals in maintaining stable housing in Southern Middlesex County (Deep River, Essex, Killingworth, Westbrook, Clinton Old Saybrook). Case Management services are not time limited.

The PILOTS branch is a categorical program of the US Department of Housing and Urban Development and a State of CT Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) funded program that provides a rental subsidy for individuals or families in which at least one adult member is homeless, disabled and has a household income at or below 50% of the poverty level. Clients are referred to PILOTS through the Shelter Plus Care program that requires applicants with mental health and/or significant substance abuse problem that is of a chronic and long term nature, and/or be living with HIV/AIDS.

Services provided include:

• Case Management
• Transportation
• Rental Subsidies
• Vocational Assistance

All referrals come from community providers and must be homeless, or at risk of becoming homeless, or disability in order to be eligible and meet income guidelines.

For more information regarding the program branches contact:
Program Manager: Andrea Hunter at 860-344-0682 ext 103 or ahunter@theconnectioninc.org