Gov. Ned Lamont announced on Friday the creation of a panel to address homelessness in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Interagency Council on Homelessness will work to strengthen the state's current programs and connect people experiencing homelessness to various services more effectively.

It will also work to meet the demand for housing.

Although several bills have been passed to improve homelessness in the state, officials say it remains an issue.

Andrea Barton Reeves, the Commissioner of Social Services, says housing is a human right.

She adds that everyone deserves to live in an affordable and safe community.

"We all know how important having an home is. And often we take this for granted but we can see the numbers in our state and in our country changing. That is as rents rise, inflation rises, wages remain stagnant the opportunity to live in decent affordable housing seems to close every day. So the work that we are will be doing as an interagency council recognizes that housing is a fundamental right," Barton Reeves says.

The council will consist of leaders from state agencies responsible for housing and intervention support services.