OFFICE OF FISCAL ANALYSIS
Legislative Office Building, Room 5200
Hartford, CT 06106 (860) 240-0200
http://www.cga.ct.gov/ofa
sHB-7188
AN ACT CONCERNING HOMELESSNESS AND THE CHESS
PROGRAM.
Primary Analyst: ES 4/1/25
Contributing Analyst(s): LD, BP
Reviewer: RW
OFA Fiscal Note
State Impact:
Agency Affected Fund-Effect FY 26 $ FY 27 $
Social Services, Dept. GF - Cost See Below See Below
Note: GF=General Fund
Municipal Impact: None
Explanation
The bill results in a cost to the Department of Social Services (DSS)
associated with increasing rates for the Connecticut Housing
Engagement and Support Services (CHESS) program. The bill's
provisions include (1) establishing a minimum per person per month
rate to be paid to providers, (2) ensuring that eligibility criteria and
provider payment rates align with those for the supportive housing
program administered by the Department of Mental Health and
Addiction Services (DMHAS), (3) setting provider payment rates that
are comparable to other states, and (4) prioritizing housing assistance
vouchers for newly enrolled, unhoused participants.
For context, FY 24 DSS expenditures for CHESS totaled
approximately $762,000. Medicaid rates vary and include
comprehensive community support services ($45 per hour) and service
assessment/plan of care development ($207 per unit). Permanent
supportive housing services provided by DMHAS cost approximately
$9,500 per slot per year. The extent of the cost to increase rates depends
on how such rates are structured in order to meet the provisions of the
bill. 2025HB-07188-R000473-FN.DOCX Page 2 of 2
The Out Years
The annualized ongoing fiscal impact identified above would
continue into the future subject to CHESS rates and program structure.