Every week, I hear from families in our community who are desperately trying to keep a roof over their heads. Parents tell me about rent hikes that outpace their paychecks, forcing impossible choices between groceries, medication, and rent. Seniors on fixed incomes worry that one unexpected expense could mean losing the home they’ve lived in for decades. Families share the anxiety of living month to month, never knowing when a sudden eviction notice might upend their lives. The lack of affordable housing options leaves them with nowhere to turn. It’s clear that Connecticut needs stronger protections – like just-cause eviction laws – to ensure that landlords cannot uproot tenants without a valid reason, providing families with the stability and security they deserve.

But we also need to be honest: eviction protections alone won’t solve the root of the crisis. The driving force behind no-fault evictions, skyrocketing rents, and widespread housing insecurity is clear – we simply don’t have enough homes. Families are competing for too few affordable units, and as demand outstrips supply, rents will keep rising, pushing more people to the brink. Without bold, long-term zoning reform to increase housing options, we’re just putting out fires while the foundation crumbles. No matter how many crucial short-term policies we enact, lasting change will only come when we tackle the housing shortage head-on.

That’s why Connecticut needs a framework like Towns Take the Lead, HB 6944, a proposal that encourages cities and towns to proactively allow more housing to be built while maintaining local control. By incentivizing municipalities to expand their housing stock, especially in areas near jobs and transit, we can create a fairer system that works for everyone – not just those who can afford rising costs.

Connecticut’s Housing Crisis Won’t Be Solved Without Zoning Reform, Kirk A. Wesley, CT News Junkie, March 19, 2025, available here