Suburb, city, or rural town? HB 5002 will help your community
Connecticut needs affordable housing. HB 5002 empowers towns to make it happen.
Connecticut is in an affordable housing crisis. Rent keeps going up, pricing people out of their communities, and homes are becoming more expensive. House Bill 5002 gives towns the power to help by being creative with solutions. Unfortunately, Gov. Ned Lamont is considering vetoing it.
HB 5002 is a comprehensive housing bill that gives towns and cities across our state the tools to change zoning to allow for affordable housing, but it’s far greater than that. The bill also expands fair rent commissions to dozens more areas and will allow for a pilot program to see if there’s a better way to provide rental assistance.
The House and Senate have already passed it. It’s now awaiting Lamont’s signature before it goes into law. So, how will this help your town?
Rent could get more affordable in suburbs and rural towns
Fair rent commissions can order a landlord to make repairs, stop unfair rent hikes, or put a rent increase on pause until a landlord fixes a property. Right now, fair rent commissions are only required to exist in Connecticut cities and towns with more than 25,000 people.
HB 5002 expands fair rent commissions so that towns with more than 15,000 people are also covered by one. Because a renter can only file a complaint with a fair rent commission if they live within the boundaries of a town that has one, more tenants will be protected if Lamont signs the bill.
It’s a step towards making rent more fair for tenants across our state, because renters won’t have to live in a larger town to be protected.
Suburbs and rural towns can keep their community together
Working people are being priced out of the suburbs and can’t afford to stay in rural areas, because there isn’t enough housing to rent or buy. Young adults who’ve lived in a suburb or small town their whole life suddenly can’t afford to live or raise families in their hometowns. Older people looking to downsize can’t find options. Child care providers, other educators, and other hardworking community servants can’t afford to live in the towns where they work.
HB 5002 empowers towns to preserve their unique personalities while changing zoning laws to allow more affordable housing to be built. Connecticut needs affordable housing to push back against the cost of living crisis, but towns currently don’t have the tools to help them do it. They may want to add affordable housing, but don’t know how many units to plan for, or how to change local zoning restrictions to allow for it. HB 5002 provides structure and a compass to make it happen.
Currently, zoning restrictions block what type of housing is built in an area. For example, 90% of the state’s residential areas are zoned in a way that only single-family homes can be built there. Half of that area requires a home to be built on at least two acres of land. That means that it’s illegal to try to build an apartment building, duplex, townhome, or condo in the vast majority of residential areas in Connecticut.
Every corner of the state is struggling. And each town is struggling in a different way. Under the bill, towns will have the freedom to decide how to match the need. That can include zoning for apartments, duplexes, condos, and other creative solutions.
Downtowns can get stronger everywhere
HB 5002 gives towns and cities the power to revitalize their downtown areas. Commercial space like empty offices can be converted into housing, infusing life back into our communities. There isn’t a one-size-fits-all solution to housing. HB 5002 provides the tools to make it happen.
It could get easier to get to work and school
Under H.B. 5002, towns will have the freedom to decide how to match the need for housing. That can include zoning for apartments, duplexes, condos, and other creative solutions.
Areas that place affordable housing near public transportation may also be prioritized to receive other funding. So for people in towns with train stations, bus stops, or other transportation, it could get even easier to live in a place with reliable transportation to get to work and school.
Areas that place affordable housing near public transportation may also be prioritized to receive other funding.
Families are being priced out of the suburbs, cities are losing people to other states, and people can’t afford to stay in rural areas, all because there aren’t enough homes to rent or buy.
When people are priced out of their communities, our neighborhoods are torn apart, children have to leave their schools, and people can face long commutes to work. Connecticut’s character is its people. We preserve it by keeping our communities together.
Our state cannot wait another year for a solution. Take action now to tell Lamont to sign the bill.
