Op-Ed: CT’s nonprofits need funding and staff to maintain the state’s human service safety net

 

Community-based nonprofits in Connecticut and across the country are losing experienced staff to higher-paying jobs at businesses like Walmart and Amazon as a nationwide workforce shortage converges with the omicron surge.

 

While for-profit businesses have been able to find ways to raise wages, nonprofits do not have that option. They contract with the state to provide quality services including for substance abuse and mental health treatment, day and residential services for people with disabilities, homeless and domestic violence shelters and employment and re-entry support for people leaving prison. Contracted funding has simply not kept up with costs over the last decade and a half — and then came COVID.

 

Read the full piece in the New Haven Register here.