January 27, 2016, 9:00am-11:30am - Click here for a recap of the event.
ALICE’s Search for Survival - The Barriers and Paths to Opportunity for Connecticut’s Working Households
United Way of Connecticut found that the “survival budget” for Asset Limited Income Constrained Employed (ALICE) individuals and families is burdened by major unavoidable costs: childcare, transportation and housing. Yet too many major employers, business leaders and policymakers don’t realize that 1 of every 3 Connecticut households is an ALICE household. We explore the difficult, and sometimes impossible, choices that ALICE households face every day and the public- and private-sector solutions that can lessen their burden so that they are able to move beyond mere survival and find new opportunity in Connecticut.
Click here for a downloadable flyer.

February 23, 2016, 9:00am-11:30am - Click here for a recap of the event.
Connecting the Dots... to a Better Connecticut Transit System 
The state has increasing transit resources - bus lines, Metro-North, Shoreline East, the new CT Fastrak and, soon, the New Haven-Hartford-Springfield commuter rail line. But true transit success only comes with well-planned development that allows for the full utilization of those resources: housing, jobs, training, healthcare and recreation at transit stops. What can we learn from other states with similar challenges that have successfully implemented Transit-Oriented Development? How can we utilize our state resources to leverage financing and spark economic and housing development, optimize service, reduce expenses, develop neighborhoods and ensure that transit effectively connects those who need it most to the services they use?
Click here for a downloadable flyer.

March 31, 2016, 8:30am-11:30am - Click here for a recap of the event.
Housing Choice and Affordability: Unlocking Opportunity
The housing policies of the previous century resulted in an unsustainable housing economy that has caused a dangerous ripple-effect through public education and infrastructure systems. The realities of a stalled single-family market require change in order to preserve all that makes our towns special. Demographic trends suggest the need for housing that is affordable and walkable to town centers and transit. But further, a foundation of research indicates the momentous opportunities for future success when children and their parents are situated not only in exceptional schools but also high-resource communities. Can expanding housing choice unlock the as-yet unrealized prospect for lasting family and community sustainability?
Click here for a downloadable flyer.

April 26, 2016 - 8:30am-11:30am - Click here for a recap of the event.
The Next Frontier: Ending Family Homelessness
With a slower economic recovery in Connecticut and the nationwide trend of rising poverty, many working class families in our state are living on the very edge, and greater numbers of these families and children are falling into homelessness. The Opening Doors-CT campaign aims to end family homelessness by 2022, and a number of innovative initiatives are underway to better understand and address the needs of our state’s most vulnerable families.  This Forum explores these initiatives and lessons learned as well as best practices from around the nation.
Click here for a downloadable flyer. 

June 29, 2016 - 8:30am-11:30am - Click here for a recap of the event.
Pushing the Envelope: Creative Financing to End Homelessness
Homelessness is expensive. Advancing creative ways to invest in solutions to end homelessness in our state will reduce public costs as well as make life better for many people who are currently living without a stable place to call home. Innovative financing will be critical to this effort. This IForum will look at creative ways to stretch limited funding to accomplish the goal of ending homelessness, including public-private partnerships, cross-sector collaborations, access to mainstream supports and prioritization of resources.
Click here for a downloadable flyer.
 

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