Join us for a presentation by Erin Boggs of the Open Communities Alliance to learn about Housing Segregation/Integration and potential Legislation in this ongoing state legislative session. Following the presentation will be a panel discussion with legislators from demographically distinct Middlesex County districts.
Guests: *Erin Boggs, Open Communities Alliance *Senator Norm Needleman, 33rd State Senate District (tent.)
*State representative Christine Palm, 36th House District (tent) *State Rep. Que Phipps, 100th House District Other guests TBA
Thursday, Feb. 14th from 9:00-10:15 am
deKoven House, Middletown
For Your Information, these are the Open Communities 2019 Policy Priorities:
Fair Housing Data Transparency: Through an amendment to CGS Sec. 8-37t, consolidate existing housing data collection requirements and ensure that all relevant state agencies report housing information to allow for a full understanding of the state’s subsidized housing inventory and an assessment of progress on legal obligations to counteract a legacy of government policies that intentionally created housing segregation (the “affirmatively further fair housing” obligation). More...
State Zoning Administration: Amend the state’s Zoning Enabling Act, CGS Sec. 8-2, to fulfill Connecticut’s federal and state fair housing legal obligations by ensuring that municipal zoning supports housing integration. More...
Expanded Housing Authority Jurisdiction: Amend CGS 8-39 et seq. to permit housing authorities to adopt expanded areas of operation that extend to higher opportunity areas within 30 miles of their municipal borders. More...
Open Choice Vouchers Pilot: Amend CGS Sec. 8-345 to create specialized housing vouchers available to families participating in the Open Choice program who would like to move to the higher opportunity community where their child attends school or a similar higher opportunity area. More...
Reinstatement of the Affirmatively Furthering Private Right of Action: In 1991 the Legislature passed a bill intended to require state housing agencies to intentionally work to unwind segregation. In 2006 the CT Supreme Court determined that this law was unenforceable. This proposal recognizes that we need a more robust approach for addressing housing segregation. More...
Municipal Plans of Conservation and Development Fair Housing Accountability: Amend CGS 8-23 to address the fact that while municipal Plans of Conservation and Development (POCD) are required to make provision for multifamily housing and promote housing choice and economic diversity in line with the state’s housing needs, municipal POCDs are not reviewed by the state and there is no incentive to comply with these fair housing obligations. This proposal would require compliance with these provisions in order for towns to access state discretionary funding and create a review process at the state level adopting specific criteria developed by an expert working group.