Federation of Connecticut Taxpayer Organizations

Financial problems are prompting 32 group homes around the state to close their doors by the end of the year and could leave 340 people unemployed.

REM Connecticut which operates group homes for the mentally and developmentally disabled will shutter all its locations between Oct. 31 and Dec. 31according to an Aug. 19 letter from Executive Director Paul Cataldo to the Department of Labor.

We have recently learned of several changes that negatively impact our level of reimbursement and as a result we have made the tough decision that we can no longer continue to provide the level of service that we believe is in the best interest of our clients Cataldo said in a statement released Wednesday.

The layoffs will affect 44 supervisors and support staff members and 298 direct support professionals, according to Cataldo, who said he'll work to find new positions for all of them.

We are hoping that the transition of the individuals we serve to a new provider will include employment opportunities for REM staff so that employees will experience no gap in employment and relationships will continue uninterrupted he said.

Affected employees will not receive severance packages but will be compensated for unused vacation time, according to the letter. Workers currently covered by company insurance can opt for COBRA coverage.

Staff members who are not placed at a new provider may be eligible for unemployment the letter says.

All group home residents will be transferred to other facilities.

The following REM Connecticut locations will close by 2015

166 Center Hill Road in Barkhamsted

65 Old Windsor Road in Bloomfield

180 Filley Road in Haddam

1480 Saybrook Road in Haddam

4 Millbrook Drive in East Hartford

200 Nutmeg Lane, Apt. 304 in East Hartford

60 Washington Avenue in East Hartford

2068 Exeter Road A and B in Lebanon

93 Summit Street in Manchester

114 Woodland Street A and B in Manchester

51 Vernon Street in Manchester

676 Mansfield City Road in Mansfield

90 Dana Lane in Meriden

249 Bailey Road in Middletown

440 Middlefield Street in Middletown

9 Northwoods Lane, Apt. 9N in Middletown

6 Harvey Drive in North Granby

177 Broadway in Norwich

249 Chestnut Hill Road in Somers

295 Old Stafford Road in Tolland

12 N. Turnpike Road, Apt. C in Wallingford

203 Capital Avenue in Waterbury

145 Holly Street in Waterbury

76 Litchfield Road, Apt. B in Watertown

23 Millbrook Circle in Windsor

656 Windsor Avenue in Windsor

722 Windsor Avenue Apt. B in Windsor

824C Windsor Avenue in Windsor

5 Elm Street Apt. 32 in Winsted

42 Maloney Court in Winsted

http://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/Closure-of-32-Group-Homes-Affecting-340-Jobs-273838981.html