Earlier this year it was announced that Clinton would receive $3.8 million of ARPA funding. On March 2, Clinton voters unanimously approved a plan on how to spent about $2 million of that money.

As part of the plan, $637,800 is coming to the Human Services Department, according to David Melillo, the department director.

“This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to have the ability to get people this kind of help. I strongly encourage people who have been affected by the pandemic to reach out to us,” said Melillo.

Melillo spoke with the Harbor News about how the department is planning on spending the money. Melillo said the break down for the money allocated is as follows:

• $232,000 to address citizen mental health services,

• $265,000 to address citizen rent, mortgage, and utilities needs,

• $57,600 to address citizen technology needs, and

• $83,200 to address citizen respite needs

Housing

“The biggest part of what we’re doing is keeping people in their home,” said Melillo.

The help is available for any resident of low- to moderate income, according to Melillo. The money can be used to cover items like rent, mortgages, and utilities.

“It can mean a lot of help to a lot of people,” said Melillo. “Even if you paid you mortgage but then you didn’t make a payment on your car because of that, we can help with that and try and make you whole.”

While there are income requirements to qualify for this help, Melillo said the good news is that the guidelines are less stringent than normal.

“Normally when people come in for financial help, the guidelines are tough and there’s complicated forms. This is going to be a bit easier. There are still guidelines, but we went as broad as we could,” said Melillo.

Residents interested in this help should contact Cheryl Church at 860-669-7347.

Mental Health

“I think this is beyond Clinton. Everywhere the need for mental health help has seemingly grown tremendously,” Melillo said of the pandemic. In order to qualify for mental health assistance, Melillo said that the mental health concern has to be caused by the pandemic. However, there is no income constraints on who is eligible for help.

If approved, the money can be used to help with bills for therapy sessions with therapists outside of the department, or to provide treatment through the department.

“We’re going to spend some money addressing the mental health of kids, especially kids who may be having a hard time going back to school and are absent more than we’d like due to a mental health concern,” said Melillo.

Respite

A third category that the department will help with is respite care.

“This is for families that have kids with high needs. For example, maybe one kid is in the hospital with something while another kid has specific special needs,” said Melillo.

The department would help these families by offering up to eight hours a week of care, though Melillo said specifics are still being worked out for this program.

Technology

Melillo said that the details for the technology assistance program are also still being worked out, but the basic premise is to help those without quality technology support.

“It will help seniors who aren’t comfortable with computers and offer some lessons and hardware they can work on,” said Melillo. “As well, if a kid doesn’t have great Internet access at home, they can come and we’ll help them.”

Thanks to the allocated money, Melillo said the department has a chance to help a wide swath of citizens.

“It’s a great opportunity to help a lot of folks,” Melillo said.

“This is an opportunity that never came before and is not something every town in the country is doing. I think it’s great that Clinton is funding this kind of help,” said Melillo. “I think people in town should feel good that people were looking out for them and approved this kind of help.”

“I want to thank the Town Council, the town manager, and the town for approving these plans and putting us in a position to help,” said Melillo.

The Human Services Department can be reached at 860-669-1103.