STATE REPRESENTATIVES LEEPER AND FARRAR SECURE $1 MILLION IN STATE BUDGET FOR REFUGEE RESETTLEMENT SERVICES

(HARTFORD, CT) – Earlier this week, State Representatives Jennifer Leeper (D–Fairfield, Southport) and Kate Farrar (D–West Hartford) commemorated World Refugee Day by celebrating the inclusion of $1 million in the state budget to provide financial assistance to refugee resettlement agencies and to help close the ‘welcome gap’ faced by Connecticut’s refugees. The Representatives have worked directly with refugee assistance agencies across the state, including Integrated Refugee & Immigrant Services (IRIS), Connecticut Institute for Refugee and Immigrants (CIRI), and Jewish Family Services (JFS), in response to the influx of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and Ukraine and the crucial need for additional funding.

The funding secured in the state budget will provide each arriving refugee with a one-time grant of $1,000 to compensate for high costs of living in Connecticut by covering expenses such as rent, utilities, transportation, food, English language instruction, and job training. The funds will be directly allocated to the sponsoring refugee resettlement agencies.

The U.S. Department of State allocates a per capita allowance of $2,275 per refugee to resettlement agencies, with $1,225 supporting direct client expenses, including rental assistance. Connecticut’s high cost of living drains these funds during refugees’ first few months of living in the state, but it typically takes five months for refugees to find employment that will cover their living expenses. These interim months are known as the ‘welcome gap’. The additional funding in the state budget works to close that existing gap.

“I am so proud that we were able to secure this critical funding for our refugee resettlement agencies to support the influx of refugees arriving from Afghanistan and Ukraine and further work to close the ‘welcome gap’. We want to keep refugees in our state and ensure that they have the necessary resources to live fulfilling and productive lives here,” said Rep. Leeper. “Thank you to Governor Lamont for approving these funds. I look forward to continued work with State Representative Farrar and our resettlement agencies to see how we can further support our refugee communities.”

“As the wife of a refugee, I’ve learned firsthand how critical immediate resources and support are as families resettle in a new community,” Rep. Farrar said. “I am proud of our work to secure funding for hundreds of refugees to rebuild their lives and thrive in our state.” 

This press release was made possible by:

Assault 3rd / Illegal Possession of Weapon in Motor Vehicle / Illegal Possession of Large Capacity Magazine



#Bridgeport CT– On June 22, 2022, at approximately 0730 hours Traffic Division Sergeant Wilson was traveling east on State Street. He was flagged down by a distraught female. The female started yelling she was assaulted in the store by a male suspect. The female pointed at a gray vehicle attempting to leave the gas station.


Sergeant Wilson pulled into the gas station and the gray vehicle made a quick U-turn and parked near a gas pump. He approached the vehicle which was operated by one male. The victim started arguing with the suspect and Sergeant Wilson was able to calm her down.
The suspect started making unusual movements in the vehicle and he was ordered to turn the car off and hand over the keys. The victim started yelling “he assaulted me in the store” and continued arguing with suspect. The victim was ordered to calm down until American Medical Response arrived to give her medical assistance.


Sergeant Wilson started asking the suspect to explain the encounter in the store. The suspect started explaining the incident and Sergeant Wilson observed Womack sneak over to right rear passenger door, and open the door, and grab an item from the back seat. Sergeant Wilson approached the male ordered him to stop. The male was detained, and Sergeant Wilson, along with Officer Pires, recovered the firearm.
Traffic Officer J. Brown patted down the operator of the vehicle and he was handcuffed and detained. The victim started explaining the assault to Officer M. Mazzocco and she received medical assistance by AMR. The incident was investigated, and video footage was obtained.
The suspects were identified as 24-year-old Taivon Reed and 52-year-old Robert Womack, and both were placed under arrest without incident.


This call demonstrates the continuous efforts made by Bridgeport Police Officers to maintain public safety and reduce the number of illegal firearms accessible in our community. Further, this arrest illustrates that individuals in possession of these firearms, without the proper permits, will be held accountable. I thank Sgt. Wilson for his attention to duty while patrolling throughout the city of Bridgeport.
Reed of Bridgeport (photo below) was charged with Operating an Unregistered Motor Vehicle / Illegal Operation of Motor Vehicle without a License / Criminally Negligence Storage of a Firearm / Illegal Possession of Weapon in Motor Vehicle / Illegal Possession of Large Capacity Magazine / Breach of Peace 2nd / Assault 3rd. Bond was set at $75,000.

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