CT Public | By: Abigail Brone
With the next legislative session set to commence in early February, housing affordability advocates are outlining their policy priorities.
The housing policy advocacy group Partnership for Strong Communities is prioritizing strengthening existing programs, according to Alysha Gardner, the Partnership’s senior policy analyst.
“The focus on existing programs is not because we’re trying to change anything, but because we know they work,” Gardner said. “They just need more investment to work for the most number of people possible.”
Some of their goals include expanding the Rental Assistance Program (RAP), which is Connecticut’s local version of Section 8 housing vouchers, Gardner said. The Partnership also hopes to increase protections for the state’s affordable housing statute, known as Section 8-30g.
The Partnership released a statement outlining housing objectives, which said in part, “By advancing zoning and planning reforms and upholding 8-30g, we can create more inclusive communities and ensure that people of all incomes have access to affordable homes.”
In Connecticut, communities with more than 10% affordable housing stock are able to deny requests to construct additional housing complexes. Communities below the threshold aren’t able to deny projects that incorporate affordable options. However, they can appeal to the state government for intervention.
The Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Procedure was enacted in 1989 as a way to facilitate the construction of affordable housing, particularly in communities that did not already have a large supply of affordable units.
Housing advocates say the law makes sure communities include affordable housing. But those who are against the bill say it’s too restrictive and does not give local government leaders enough authority over housing development creation in their community.
Advocates are also calling for more transparency from the state in regards to how funding for affordable housing creation is being utilized.
“What we’re most concerned about now, instead of asking for more and more bonding money, is more targeting of that towards deeply affordable units,” Gardner said.