High rent is forcing some Connecticut residents to sell cars

Going without a car makes it harder to get to work or get food

When her corporate landlord raised her rent by more than $100, Trisha in Middletown was forced to make tough decisions to make ends meet.

“I [had] to let go of my vehicle because I am unable to afford rent, car payment, gas, electricity, and other expenses,” she told us.

We’ve talked to hundreds of people around Connecticut about how the rising cost of rent has hurt them. When it comes to deciding what you can cut from your budget, a car is a big expense that some people have decided to let go when they have to choose between keeping it or paying for groceries and utilities.

We’ve heard how:

• William in Groton had his car repossessed after his out-of-state, corporate landlord increased rent by more than $100
• Denise in New London had to sell her car, pawn items, and eventually move out when rent went up more than $300
• D., in West Hartford, sold her car to make rent one month

Many others told us about holding off on paying car insurance or their car payment to make ends meet after rent increased. For some, the high cost of rent has damaged their credit scores when they’ve had to rely on credit cards to buy food. That, in turn, makes it harder to afford another car and get back on their feet in the future.

In sections of New Haven, Hartford, and Waterbury, less than half of people have a car. Not having a vehicle can be harmful – it’s harder to get a job that requires “reliable transportation,” get to a food pantry, and visit friends and family.

It’s not always possible to use public transportation to get to where you need to go, and many rural areas don’t have it. Not everyone lives within walking distance of a bus stop, can safely get to one in the winter, or access one if they have a disability. For seniors, for example, 80% have what’s considered a car-dependent neighborhood. Half of areas don’t have sidewalks, and 60% aren’t within ten minutes of a bus stop.

Using a rideshare service to get to work, the grocery store, and doctors appointments adds up fast. And, as the price of gas rises, people who rely on gig work like rideshare and food delivery aren’t making as much money off it. Giving up their car to avoid being evicted also reduces the opportunity to do these side jobs.

Kya, in Guilford, told us she had to start using public transit, rely on food banks, and pause paying off her credit cards when her rent increased another $100. She said rent keeps going up, despite no improvement being made and maintenance requests being ignored.

“We were denied a key to our apartment for two months until we just went and bought our own doorknobs,” she said. “When we moved in, there was no refrigerator or stove for two weeks.”

When you have to get rid of your car so you can pay rent, you potentially lose out on opportunities to get back on your feet. It’s ridiculous that hardworking people have to pick between eviction, going hungry, and keeping their lights on. If people can’t get a job because they don’t have a car, then it’s harder to make ends meet.

This is unacceptable. Connecticut can’t afford to wait to take action. People are struggling now.

Change won’t happen unless we demand it. Join us in the fight for a better Connecticut so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter what their zip code is.