By: Saquan Taylor, Research Associate
“If only I’d been born rich,” is what I tell people, a sentiment many of my friends share as well; then we wouldn’t be “here.” In this sense, it is a job I don’t get paid enough to do, but I must do because it pays the bills. I recall numerous times in both high school & middle school, a prophecy being echoed by teachers: “Go to college, get your degree, so you don’t end up working a job that pays you little, and you hate it.” I can attest that they were wrong. I followed all the steps, but the outcome is still unlike what I’d imagined. It may also seem that people like me were sold a lie, or that I am simply unlucky in my endeavors. Recent reports indicate that 42% of recent college graduates were classified as underemployed, the highest level since 2020.[i] When looking at the numbers, I do not feel alone in my pursuit of job security, but that pursuit may come with a tradeoff: community.[ii]
As I continue to move forward in life, one question I ask myself routinely is: how am I going to find a job, a place to live, and an area with things to do? This question becomes uniquely difficult to answer, as many Connecticut residents do not live in the town/city where they work and often visit other towns to socialize and gather. This problem is not unique to Connecticut; across America, a common trend is growing: the unaffordability of living and a lack of third places to bring people together. Sociologist Ray Oldenburg first used the term in 1989 with the release of his book The Great Good Place. In it, he describes third places as important for democracy, civic engagement, and a sense of place. As the world begins to reopen in the wake of the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic, these third places are needed more than ever. The more we continue to lose places away from home that offer something different from what we know, the more the effects of this loss will show. Brief studies have shown that in addition to the services, goods, and amenities third places offer, they also help buffer against loneliness, stress, and alienation.[iii] But more concrete research on third places and their effects is still needed.
Connecticut is a wealthy state, but according to the CT Examiner, “40% of our households are struggling.”[iv] Bearing the brunt of this problem are young adults just entering the workforce. Rent costs continued to rise even as wages for workers without college degrees or specialized training stayed largely flat, and unemployment among young people increased sharply.[v] It seems the world has forgotten about this group of people aged 19 to 35, as many can’t afford to live comfortably without spending a large share of their income on an apartment or house. Sebastian Torres recently expressed this very sentiment and frustration with the housing problem in Connecticut.[vi] In search of housing, he is “paying well over 30% of his income on housing costs” and, like many other young adults experiencing this, “anxious about making rent every month while still being able to afford groceries”.[vii] The choices we are left with are life or death: do we pay rent and miss a meal, or buy food and miss next month’s rent? When we factor in all the other costs of living, the numbers are unbearable. If only we’d been born rich.
I am fortunate, though. I currently live with my mother, but as the days, weeks, and months go by, I feel an indescribable amount of grief because, as much as I want to move out, I can’t. I am not ashamed of living at home, yet I would love to move out; I just can’t afford it. It seems that my generation is staying at home longer than previous generations. How does this bode for our ability to find partners effectively or host friends for game night, a barbecue, or just hanging out? Or do we just give up for the moment? A few weeks ago, I tried to apply for a new affordable housing development in Cheshire, but unsurprisingly, all the units were already taken. I sighed and moved on. If the choice is between having roommates or staying at home, I’m choosing the latter. However, having my own apartment or house would be nice. Imagine inviting friends over without worrying about bothering your siblings or parents. Between paying back student loans and trying to save up and enjoy my young adulthood, can I really afford to have fun? Can I live here? Am I able to find work here without spending an hour in traffic? Even the regularly asked question, “Will I have kids? Right now? In this economy?” The answer is no; I can’t even afford to feed myself, much less a child.
While Connecticut is trying to solve the problem of retaining its young people, the solutions are slow, and the realities of the housing landscape make it not attractive enough to keep people here. When you ask people about Connecticut, they usually say something like ‘great place to retire.’ But what about “starting out”? Nothing.
Connecticut has not adequately provided housing stability for young people and is therefore losing competitiveness to New York City, Boston, and even Los Angeles. Although not for all young people, these cities are able to draw younger crowds and raw talent. Like all cities, metropolises are plagued by problems larger cities tend to have, but despite those problems, affordable housing supply is being addressed on a larger scale than in Connecticut.
What do these cities have that virtually no city in Connecticut has, except for maybe New Haven and West Hartford? Community, energy, and vibes. Those aforementioned things matter a lot to my generation, and having visited those places, I can confidently say they shape not just how a city operates but also how it is talked about. Still, even within those cities, many people who come to enjoy the walkable neighborhoods, on-street restaurants, and bustling nightlife live in other parts of the state. With affordable housing in close proximity to the city center, people can walk more in their neighborhoods, visit new shops, go to the park, and stop to talk to someone new. For some people, these can be considered third places. Having moved from The Bronx to Waterbury myself, the stark difference is blunt. In the Bronx, I used to walk everywhere or take reliable public transportation. I once looked up the distance to Walmart from where I live in Waterbury, and it was a 51-minute walk compared to a 10-minute drive. I chose the latter, of course. This is not to say people don’t commute, but when our neighborhoods have everything we need within close proximity, walking becomes more of an option.
Connecticut is unique, with its highways and state roads, you can travel anywhere. Before I moved here, one thing I heard constantly was that Connecticut was just highways with nothing that would make people stop. Having lived here for some time, it’s clear that Connecticut is more than that, but how can this state be content with just being a pit stop in people’s lives? One of the most damaging aspects is that our elected leaders appear not to care about young people like me. How can this state be content with just being a pit stop in people’s lives? One of the most disappointing aspects is that, when it comes to actually addressing this, our elected leaders appear not to care about young people like me.
Last June, Governor Ned Lamont vetoed a housing bill, H.B. 8002, that would’ve dramatically helped build new housing in Connecticut and “would reform zoning limitations and increase the housing supply.”[viii] The veto came in part due to backlash from many Fairfield County residents.[ix] Opponents of the bill claim that it weakened local control and places a burden on towns.[x] It’s no surprise that, as many have come to see Connecticut as NIMBY land, many towns like to keep things the way they are, and any development is a threat to their very existence.
Although the veto was disappointing, during the special session in November, a similar bill was passed and became law. Due to its controversial nature, some have deemed it less substantial, but it is a significant first step toward addressing Connecticut’s affordable housing needs. On the other hand, Connecticut was able to pass a historic childcare bill, S. B. 1. This bill would create an independent investment fund, mandate free childcare for families earning under $100,000, and cap the cost at 7% for others, while increasing teacher pay and increasing home childcare providers’ numbers to 12.[xi] That is a lot and very much needed. Still, I can’t help but ask: where is the sweeping housing bill that would actually improve life for childless adults, recent college graduates, and others trying to move out on their own, relocate, or establish themselves early in adulthood, especially those without the cushion of family wealth? What do we get? Too often, the answer feels like “nothing,” followed by an expectation that we should simply accept it. And when we raise concerns, they are easily written off as whining rather than treated as legitimate policy demands.
Imagine policies that promote housing while addressing concerns about social interaction and building communal bonds, especially among younger people. That could include affordable studio apartments or larger apartment buildings with co-living spaces, and micro-apartments like those in Japan and Korea. I believe a government is supposed to help its citizens, and programs like Supportive Housing for Young Adults and Income-Restricted/Subsidized Housing are essential. This is particularly true as most college graduates struggle to find entry-level jobs that pay enough to cover current housing costs. At the same time, the age of first-time home buyers continues to increase. This problem will only exacerbate if it is not addressed to the extreme it is playing out.
If I’d been born rich, I wouldn’t be writing this, as my family would have enough money for me not to worry about even having a job, and the option to move to another state or country would be readily available. Still, alas, that is not the case, and I am not rich. I am writing this because the problem will only get worse if it is not corrected.
As more and more people continue to retreat online due to the lack of community and access to third places, isolationism and loneliness will rise, and the all-too-common phrase “if only we knew” will become ours. For those who can’t bear the lack of certainty. What will happen to them? Unfortunately, we might already have an answer. Whether people face homelessness in college or after, the number of homeless, college-educated individuals paints a painfully clear picture.
For young people like me, the need for truly affordable housing and job security is even more urgent than almost any other issue currently plaguing the United States. We need work, stability, and a future we can plan for. So, what is our reward? As job reports from the federal government keep showing losses,[xii] warning signs of a downward spiral are increasing.
Our society and country are at a turning point; the problems of the present were once problems of the past that went unaddressed. Fortunately, we currently have advocates and people fighting for change today, not tomorrow. As a political scientist, I know that change happens over time, but these failures are policy failures and can only be fixed through progressive policymaking. We must ensure that our elected officials know we want and need something different, including what they may have overlooked.
[i] Nietzel, Michael T. 2026. “Unemployment and Underemployment Rates among Recent College Graduates.” Forbes, February 23, 2026. https://www.forbes.com/sites/michaeltnietzel/2026/02/23/unemployment-and-underemployment-rates-among-recent-college-graduates/ .
[ii] Oldenburg, Ray. 1989. “The Great Good Place (Book).” United Kingdom : Marlowe & Company.
[iii] Finlay, Jessica, Michael Esposito, Min Hee Kim, Iris Gomez-Lopez, and Philippa Clarke. 2019. “Closure of ‘Third Places’? Exploring Potential Consequences for Collective Health and Wellbeing.” Health & Place 60 (102225). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.healthplace.2019.102225.
[iv] Senserrich, Roger. 2025. “It Always Comes back to Housing.” CT Examiner. September 11, 2025. https://ctexaminer.com/2025/09/10/it-always-comes-back-to-housing/.
[v] Espinoza, Marisa. 2020. “Why We Must Protect Young People from Homelessness Now — Shelterforce.” Shelterforce. June 12, 2020. https://shelterforce.org/2020/06/12/why-we-must-protect-young-people-from-homelessness-now/.
[vi] Torres, Sebastian. 2025. “Young, Qualified, and Can’t Afford to Live Here.” CT Examiner. November 8, 2025. https://ctexaminer.com/2025/11/08/young-qualified-and-cant-afford-to-live-here/.
[vii] Torres, Sebastian. 2025. “Young, Qualified, and Can’t Afford to Live Here.” CT Examiner. November 8, 2025. https://ctexaminer.com/2025/11/08/young-qualified-and-cant-afford-to-live-here/.
[viii] Sartore-Bodo, Dina , and Gabriella Iannetta. 2025. “Connecticut Is Failing in Affordability and Homebuilding: Can Gov. Lamont Turn It Around?” Realtor.com. The Realtor.com Team. November 1, 2025. https://www.realtor.com/advice/hyperlocal/connecticut-housing-construction-homebuilding-affordability/.
[ix] Monk, Ginny. 2025. “Emails: Lamont Sought Counsel as HB 5002 Housing Bill Opposition Erupted.” CT Mirror. August 18, 2025. https://ctmirror.org/2025/08/18/ct-lamont-hb-5002-169strong-emails/.
[x] Monk Ginny. 2025. “Lamont Signs H.B. 8002 into Law, Finalizing Controversial Housing Bill.” CT Mirror. November 26, 2025. https://ctmirror.org/2025/11/26/hb-8002-housing-bill-lamont-law/.
[xi] Tillman, Laura. 2025. “Transformative CT Early Childhood Education Bill Gets Full Passage.” CT Mirror. June 2, 2025. https://ctmirror.org/2025/06/02/ct-early-childhood-education-bill/.
[xii] Wallace, Alicia. 2026. “The US Economy Lost 92,000 Jobs in February and the Unemployment Rate Rose to 4.4%.” CNN. March 6, 2026. https://www.cnn.com/2026/03/06/economy/us-jobs-report-february.