Kelvin was forced between paying rising rent or eating. Connecticut must step in to protect others from making the same impossible choice.
Kelvin delivered the following remarks at the Opportunity Means Everybody Rally outside of the Connecticut Capitol Building on April 28, 2026.
I want to begin with something very personal. I was homeless.
There was a time in my life when I didn't have a home, and I know what instability feels like – not knowing where you're going to sleep, not knowing your next move.
When I got a place of my own to call home I worked hard to keep it, I paid my rent, I followed the rules and I was a good tenant. But, because of an outrageous rental increase, I could no longer afford the unit and was given only 30 days to find somewhere to go.
I’m pretty sure many people in Connecticut have felt the same way before – doing everything right and still not being secure in your own home.
Like me, many renters across Connecticut don't just face one struggle. I have to make a choice each month between rent and groceries, especially now that my SNAP has been cut. That means I get to cook one meal;,make it last a few days, and then spend the rest of the month going to food pantries and soup kitchens to eat, or taking money from my rent just to have a few groceries.
If SNAP gets cut, I can no longer attend college to further my education because the program that pays my tuition is funded through SNAP. I should be able to focus on my education, not spending my time looking for a meal
My dream is to get a degree helping others and maybe finally make enough money to not worry about rent. But with pursuing a degree, most college students don’t qualify for SNAP and have to make ends meet by utilizing food pantries to eat.
I can’t imagine not being able to have food on my table, or not being able to go to the doctor. Unfortunately this is the reality for Connecticut residents, because our state has not stepped up to protect SNAP, HUSKY, or renters. That's a choice that hurts our survival.
When we talk about making Connecticut more affordable, we talk about fairness. If you pay your rent and follow the rules, you deserve a real reason before you're forced out. You deserve to be able to provide for your family without worrying about making ends meet at the end of the month.
But overall, you deserve a Connecticut that works for you.
Our state needs to fund SNAP right now. It needs to make a plan for HUSKY. It needs to pass the renter’s tax credit. It needs to let those who've worked hard to rebuild their lives, finally have a chance to stay standing, because opportunity means everybody.