Substitute House Bill No. 7188 seeks to enhance the Connecticut Housing Engagement and Support Services (CHESS) initiative, which provides essential home and community-based services to individuals with complex health conditions who have experienced homelessness. The bill introduces new legal language to establish a minimum per person per month reimbursement rate for service providers and aligns eligibility criteria and payment rates with those of the supportive housing program managed by the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS). Additionally, it ensures that providers participating in the CHESS initiative will not experience a decrease in reimbursement rates compared to those in the supportive housing program. The bill also prioritizes housing assistance vouchers for newly enrolled unhoused participants.

To ensure effective oversight of these initiatives, the bill establishes a committee composed of various legislative chairpersons, state commissioners, and representatives from nonprofit organizations focused on homelessness. This oversight committee is responsible for reviewing services related to homelessness, including the CHESS initiative, and will require quarterly reports from the relevant state departments. The bill includes provisions to clarify the roles and responsibilities of the oversight committee, thereby enhancing transparency and accountability in the management of services for vulnerable populations in Connecticut. The effective date of the bill is upon passage.