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Housing for a Stronger Connecticut
For Connecticut's PeopleYoung People
Connecticut is losing a higher percentage of its 25-34 year olds than any other state. These young adults are the “new blood” of our economy – and they’re leaving for other states, in large part because housing is less expensive in other states. Click here to learn more. Families
Housing is usually the largest expense in a family budget, so high housing costs can strain that budget. That means there is less money available for other needs, like utilities and other bills, education, health care, transportation or saving for retirement or emergencies. Click here to learn more. Seniors
Many seniors live on fixed incomes that are stretched as houses costs rise. Seniors need affordable housing options in their community that will allow them to remain close to family, friends and other support structures. Click here to learn more.
Lower-Income Residents
The meteoric rise in housing costs over the past five years has left lower-income residents even further behind. A Connecticut worker must earn $20.42 per hour to afford a typical two-bedroom apartment in Connecticut, which is 2.7 times the state minimum wage. Click here to learn more. The Homeless & Supportive Housing
An estimated 33,000 people in Connecticut — including 13,000 children — experience homelessness each year. Developing more affordable housing and supportive housing is necessary to creating an environment where families and individuals can move from homelessness to being productive members of their community. Click here to learn more. For Connecticut's Economy Workers
High housing costs are driving workers out of Connecticut, threatening our labor pool and causing concern among businesses throughout the state. The crunch is especially hard in the 25-34 year old age bracket, in which Connecticut has lost a higher percentage than any other state. If we continue losing our young workers, we’ll have a shortage of workers to take over jobs as baby-boomers retire. Click here to learn more.
Businesses & the Economy
In a competitive economic climate, high housing costs make Connecticut a less attractive place to do business. Businesses worry about the high costs of housing and the high wages they will have to pay in Connecticut. If businesses leave, Connecticut will lose jobs and tax revenue, stifling our economy. Producing more housing would provide a place for workers to live, while also generating tax revenues and creating jobs. Click here to learn more. For Connecticut's Quality of LifeTransportation
Housing and transportation are the two largest expenses of the household budget. To find a house they can afford, many people move to locations farther from where they work, leading to increased transportation costs, longer commutes, increased traffic and road congestion, and decreased open space and farmland. Click here to learn more. Downtowns
Many of the downtowns in Connecticut’s cities and towns could use the economic lift that mixed-use development would bring. Siting affordable housing in downtown areas would provide customers to retail businesses while using existing infrastructure, making downtowns more lively and attractive places to live, work and visit. Click here to learn more.
Redeveloping Brownfields & Mills
Many Connecticut towns have mills or old industrial sites that stand empty and vacant but could be redeveloped for residential use. Re-using mills or brownfields for housing Connecticut residents can afford would utilize infrastructure that already exists and transform a deteriorating site into a resource for the community. Urban Revitalization
Mixed income housing in Connecticut’s cities can help struggling areas rebuild their communities. Building mixed income housing can take advantage of existing infrastructure, while diversifying the tax base, reducing commutes, providing customers for local businesses, and bringing stability to challenged neighborhoods. Wise Land Use
Sound planning and the thoughtful use of available land can help Connecticut towns address their many needs. Compact development that encourages towns to develop smaller, affordable housing units on less land can help towns conserve farmland, preserve open space, beautify developments and reduce the need to build and maintain infrastructure.
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HOMEConnecticut is a statewide campaign aimed at increasing
the stock of affordable housing in Connecticut.
The HOMEConnecticut Steering Committee
Chair:
William Cibes
Chancellor Emeritus,
Connecticut State University
Vice Chairs:
John Rathgeber
Connecticut Business and Industry Association
Andrea Pereira
Local Initiatives Support Corporation
Luis Caban
Southside Institutions Neighborhood Alliance
Includes over 40 leaders in business, banking, academia,
land use, government, law,
philanthropy, real estate,
advocacy, and housing
development.
Staffed by the
Diane Randall
David Fink
Shelby Mertes
Christina Rubenstein
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Mike Hanley
Senior Consultant |
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Importance of Housing 
