Connecticut Faces Severe Housing Crisis Amid Pandemic Challenges

HARTFORD, Conn. — Connecticut is grappling with a housing crisis as many residents face skyrocketing housing costs. A recent survey from DataHaven, conducted between August and October, reveals that nearly 1,400 residents reported difficulties in affording their homes.

The report highlights that approximately 150,000 more families in Connecticut ran out of money for housing in the past year compared to 2018. This marks a troubling increase, as about 12% of families now struggle to cover housing costs, a sharp rise from just 6% before the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jay Williams, CEO of the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, emphasized the urgent need for effective housing policy changes in Connecticut. “That’s just not like a Hartford issue. That’s just as important in Fairfield County,” he stated. Williams hopes the data will encourage conversations among community foundations regarding affordable housing availability across the state.

Another significant finding from the report is that nearly 30% of adults who have been incarcerated multiple times also experienced frequent evictions. The challenges faced by individuals with criminal records contribute to their higher eviction rates, largely due to difficulty in finding housing.

Kim Blankenship, a sociologist at American University, pointed out the obstacles for those with felony convictions when seeking housing. “Having a criminal record has implications for your access to a whole lot of different sorts of supports, including access to public housing and housing subsidies,” she said.

For over five years, housing advocates have pushed for legislation to address discrimination against residents with recent felony convictions. They argue that landlords should consider context surrounding a crime, such as the offender’s age at the time and their behavior post-release.

Blankenship noted that the impact of evictions extends beyond the individuals involved. “That doesn’t just impact the people who are involved, who themselves had the involvement, that’s all the people surrounding them,” she explained.