What the New State Budget Means for InterCommunity

On May 20, InterCommunity Health Care joined more than 2,000 nonprofit providers, staff, and clients at the Connecticut State Capitol to demand fair and sustainable funding for community-based health and human services. The rally, held just days before the close of the state’s legislative session, served as a powerful, united call for lawmakers to prioritize the needs of Connecticut’s most vulnerable residents.

The event came at a pivotal moment. As the June 4 legislative deadline approached, lawmakers and the Governor worked to finalize the state budget—nonprofits like InterCommunity sounded the alarm. Despite growing demand for services such as mental health care, substance use treatment, primary care, and community outreach, the adopted budget included no general funding increase for nonprofit providers for the 2025 fiscal year.

With banners held high and voices raised, InterCommunity staff stood in solidarity with peer organizations from across the state, urging elected officials to address a deepening crisis. Nonprofit providers like InterCommunity—who deliver essential services to people facing serious barriers to care—have gone years without adequate increases in funding, all while costs rise.

“Connecticut’s nonprofit health providers are doing more with less every day,” said Kim Beauregard, President and CEO of InterCommunity. “We serve people who face serious barriers to care—housing insecurity, poverty, substance use, and trauma. When the state underfunds organizations like ours, our communities suffer. This is not just a budget issue—it’s a public health crisis.”

While targeted increases were approved for providers who run group homes and treat developmental disabilities—with required wage increases for caregivers—broad-based support for organizations like InterCommunity was once again deferred. Lawmakers also designated $30 million in the second year of the budget for nonprofits serving individuals with mental health and substance use needs or providing reentry support to formerly incarcerated people.

InterCommunity’s presence at the Capitol was not just symbolic—it was a statement of values and a demonstration of unity with peer organizations across the state. The message was clear: Connecticut cannot balance its budget at the expense of the most vulnerable.

The rally was part of a larger statewide effort led by the CT Community Nonprofit Alliance to ensure policymakers understand the real-world impact of chronic underfunding. Without action, providers warned, services may be scaled back or eliminated, wait times could increase, and individuals and families may go without critical care.

“There’s a real disconnect between the value of our work and the state’s investment in it,” Beauregard added. “We were proud to stand up for our staff, our clients, and our mission. The fight for fair funding doesn’t end with the legislative session—it continues in every conversation we have about what kind of community we want to be.”

As we look ahead, InterCommunity remains committed to delivering high-quality, compassionate care—and to advocating for the resources needed to keep that promise.