Partnership for Strong Communities

We’re excited to feature #CAHC2025’s plenary: A Legislative Roundtable — a deep dive into what passed (and didn’t) in CT’s 2025 housing session.

Moderated by Bill Welz of Gallo & Robinson, LLC, covering housing development, tenant protections, zoning & more.

Register now: heyor.ca/LBWj0s

"I think a lot of the conversation makes it sound like we’re talking about new homes only, and those numbers are generally quite a bit lower than the numbers for preservation. It’s not a very nuanced conversation, just to take the total number.” The Partnership's Sean Ghio

Much of state-funded affordable housing in CT is rehabbed property It wasn't clear from the Office of Legislative Research report how much the properties actually expanded the state's overall housing stock.

A new @CTMirror analysis finds that more than half of the affordable housing units CT funded over the past 6 years were rehabilitated homes, not new construction.

heyor.ca/t86R8Y

Opinion: Our weakened state Too many young people don’t see a future for them in Connecticut. We’ve ignored this growing problem for too long.

"CT's housing shortage is reshaping people’s life choices. It’s weakening our families and our economy like rot in a home’s foundation that, left untreated, spreads through the structure."

Sean Ghio, Policy Director, on why ignoring the housing crisis in CT is weakening our state.

heyor.ca/etDyR3

Windham rent caps order marks victory for mobile home parks In its first case, the Windham Fair Rent Commission lowered rents for dozens of mobile home residents and limited increases for five years.

Windham’s FRC ordered major rent reductions at Stonegate Manor & set limits on future increases; a powerful reminder that fair rent oversight works.

This victory shows what’s possible when communities use their commissions to stand up for residents.

heyor.ca/wKQxUf

2025 RCP Network Gathering - The Regional Conservation Partnership Network Gathering will take place on Thursday, November 6, at UMass Amherst.

Registration is open for the 16th annual Regional Conservation Partnership Network Gathering on Thurs 11/6 at UMass Amherst. Join us as we explore the crucial intersection of conservation, housing, and land justice!

highstead.net/insights/202...

Join us THIS Friday, Oct. 24 from 1–2pm on Zoom for The Intersection of Affordable Housing and Education.

Hear from state and national advocates and a CT educator on how housing access shapes educational opportunities and outcomes.

Register here: heyor.ca/Bn9FFJ

Join us for the CAHC Reception 🎉

The culmination of two days of sessions. We’ll celebrate this year's Here for Housing Ambassadors. Stay tuned to see who we’ll be honoring!

Space is limited, RSVP today! heyor.ca/LBWj0s

We’re excited to welcome two new panelists to the #CAHC2025 opening keynote!

Camila Vallejo and Shannon Whittaker join the conversation on how narrative shapes Connecticut’s housing landscape.

Register today! heyor.ca/LBWj0s

Homepage | LSC - Legal Services Corporation: America's Partner for Equal Justice

The National Housing Law Project’s new factsheet explains what HUD tenants need to know.

If your landlord raises rent or tries to evict you, get free legal help at lsc.gov or LawHelp.org
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Read more: heyor.ca/4nYUaj

This summer 15 incredible young leaders in Norwich learned, led & raised their voices on housing issues through our Summer Youth Housing Empowering Workshop series!

From June–Sep they built advocacy skills, explored housing data & shared powerful stories.

heyor.ca/odqDSq

Nearly 200,000 CT households are eligible for rental assistance but don’t get it. 3 in 4 of the lowest-income families spend 30%+ of their income on rent.

Our latest report shows why expanding RAP is critical for safe, stable, affordable housing. ⬇️

pschousing.org/expanding-re...

📢 Calling BIPOC writers & researchers!

Interested in affordable housing policy in CT? Apply to our Research Associates Program by Oct 30, 2025.

Learn more: heyor.ca/IQAwmG

Join us Friday, Oct. 24 from 1–2pm on Zoom for The Intersection of Affordable Housing and Education.

Hear from state and national advocates and a CT educator on how housing access shapes educational opportunities and outcomes.

Register here: heyor.ca/Bn9FFJ

Opinion: CT cannot keep saying 'No' to new homes 'H.B. 5002 wasn’t a silver bullet. No single bill can solve our housing woes. But it was important, incremental progress toward systemic change.'

“H.B. 5002 wasn’t a silver bullet.. But it was important, incremental progress toward systemic change… CT cannot afford another season of delay.

Read the Partnership's latest op-ed: heyor.ca/eAHanB

Tenants Seek to Unionize One Private Equity Firm's Entire Housing Portfolio By organizing renters across Capital Realty Group’s affordable housing complexes, the Tenant Union Federation hopes to bring sectoral bargaining to negotiations with large landlords.

More than 1,000 renters in 5 states are organizing a first-of-its-kind tenant union drive against Capital Realty Group. With
CT Tenants Union helping lead the way, tenants are demanding safe and dignified housing across the company’s portfolio.

www.bloomberg.com/news/article...

🚨 2nd #CAHC2025 Keynote! 🚨

The Federal Advocacy Roundtable explores bold strategies to shape federal housing policy, spotlight U.S. successes, and tackle challenges to keep CT homes safe and affordable.

Register: heyor.ca/LBWj0s

🚨 First #CAHC2025 Keynote! 🚨

How stories shape CT’s housing future—from headlines to hashtags, town halls to kitchen tables. Don’t miss this conversation on the power of narrative in driving housing solutions.

Register: heyor.ca/LBWj0s

Our Policy Director Sean Ghio joined Rep. Maria Horn & Rob Phillips of Northwest Hills COG at Litchfield County’s Housing Affordability Summit to talk about what’s next for HB 5002 & how communities can advance housing solutions.

Opinion: YIMBYtown highlights CT’s inaction on housing In three days spent in New Haven at YIMBYtown – the premiere nationwide pro-homes conference, I felt a mixture of emotions, but mostly embarrassed.

“Listening to reps from other states talk about their successes, it’s easy to think 'That won’t work here.' But this thinking is a fallacy. Connecticut is not unique.."

Kayla Giordano reflects on #YIMBYTown in our latest op-ed.

heyor.ca/ju5ZQO

Here's an op-ed from Kayla Giordano from our coalition partner @pschousing.bsky.social. CT hosted YIMBYtown the largest pro-homes conference in the U.S. but instead of taking the lead on housing, our state is falling behind. Gov. Lamont, where is the special session? ctmirror.org/2025/09/26/y...

The Partnership endorses the bipartisan ROAD to Housing Act of 2025.

With over 140,000 extremely low-income renters and a 90K+ unit housing gap in CT alone, this bill offers real solutions to our growing affordability crisis.

Read our full statement: heyor.ca/zsfDn5

‘There’s a crisis here:’ 40% of CT households struggle to afford basics, report finds The number of families facing hardship has increased steadily in recent years, according to the United Way.

“We're presenting this information not because there's a crisis coming, but because there's a crisis here.” — Daniel Fitzmaurice, United Way of CT

📊 40% of CT families faced financial instability in 2023.

United Way is pushing for a $600/child tax credit.

🔗 heyor.ca/kaSjOA

📚 What We're Reading: Samaila Adelaiye explores Neighborhood Defenders—a sharp look at how wealthy, vocal residents use public comment to block affordable housing. The book’s findings in MA echo housing challenges here in CT.

#ZoningReform #HousingPolicy

It would cost CT billions to help very low-income renters secure homes It would cost Connecticut billions to help every low-income family secure housing, according to the findings of a new study of Connecticut’s Rental Assistance Program.

@ctpublic.bsky.social covered new research by the Partnership’s Dr. Samaila Adelaiye on why expanding programs like RAP are a cost effective way to support CT families facing housing insecurity and unaffordability.

Listen: www.ctpublic.org/news/2025-09...

#CTHousing #RentalAssitance

Proud to spotlight Research Associate Kalimah Muhammed, whose new report reveals how housing instability affects student well-being in CT’s communities of color.

She connects redlining, rent hikes & zoning to mental health + school outcomes. 🏘️📚

Read: heyor.ca/TSnqrY

Registration for #CAHC2025 is now open! Join us virtually for engaging sessions, expert panels & timely conversations.

Thanks to our sponsors, CAHC is free and open to all. Stay tuned for keynote announcements and a full agenda--coming soon

heyor.ca/LBWj0s

YIMBYtown 2025 is coming to New Haven this Sept 14–16 — and we’re proud to sponsor and serve as part of the advisory committee.

Hosted by @DesegregateCT, expect 3 days of bold ideas, hot takes, local tours, and legendary apizza.

🔗 yimby.town

#YIMBYtown2025

Over 1 in 3 Connecticut households are cost-burdened, spending more than 30% of their income on housing.

Yet Gov Lamont vetoed HB 5002—a bill that would’ve tackled housing costs, boosted supply, and supported the unhoused.

📞 Call him: 860-566-4840. Demand bold housing action.

🏠 176,728 CT households are eligible for rental assistance but remain unsupported.

Rental assistance is one of the most effective tools we have to keep families housed. Our new report lays out what it would take to close the gap.

🔗 heyor.ca/MUpRpx