Bridgeport, CT – The City of Bridgeport’s statement regarding Renter’s Rebate is as follows: 

The City has no evidence that any Renter’s Rebate data was utilized for any purposes other than to properly administer and operate this very worthy program for our residents. The impressive volume of applicants (more than 3,000) for this program during the 2023 six-month application period (April 1^st to October 1^st) necessitated multiple City agents to service our constituents. All City staff granted access to computer records for the Renter’s Rebate Program had been officially approved by the State (through the City’s Health Department) for such purposes and have been performing these standard business functions annually, both in election and non-election application years. The City would like to reassure our residents that starting on April 1^st the Renter’s Rebate Program will begin again.

Under the direction of our new Health Director, Dr. Elizabeth Rivera-Rodriguez states, “This program will be more user-friendly and will increase accessibility for our seniors. This is an important and valuable program for our seniors. To provide the right services, we will improve and streamline the process. We would like to move the Renter’s Rebate program under the Department of Social Services. We will provide training to all staff to ensure that forms are filled out and input into the state portal.”