In your words: How Connecticut’s housing crisis hurts you

Rent and home costs are splintering our communities

Even after getting a promotion, a New London County father of three can’t keep up with the increasing cost of his rent.

“I have abandoned all hope of owning a home, and I can’t find a three bedroom for anything under $2,200 a month, not including utilities,” he told us. “Connecticut, I feel, isn’t very forgiving to the young families of the working middle class.”

To survive our state’s cost of living crisis, he’s considered leaving Connecticut altogether.

“I am confident that if I stay in Connecticut, I will be constantly underwater,” he said.

The rising cost of housing has forced renters out of their communities and has placed buying a home out of reach for many working class people. Adult children can’t afford to move out of their parents’ homes – and their parents can’t afford for them to leave, either. 

We asked how the rising price of rent has hurt you. Dozens of people across the state told us about the tradeoffs they’re making to afford a roof over their head. People are canceling doctors’ appointments, falling behind on bills, and skipping meals to make ends meet.

Jason, in Middlesex County, said his rent was $1,100 a month in 2020. Now, the same house is $2,400 a month.

“How does anyone afford this?” he said. “That’s $28,800 a year on rent.”

After paying for rent and daycare, he said he has little left over each month for food, utilities, medical care, and to pay off debt. His family keeps putting offers on houses, but they haven’t been accepted.

“We are trying to buy a house, but are always bought over by large corporations or private businesses,” he wrote.

A woman in Branford told us she rented a two-bedroom apartment for $999 a month in 2016. After spending six months trying to find an affordable unit, she’s paying $1,460 a month for a one bedroom with her and her young daughter. 

“I would love to buy a house, but I don’t think I’ll ever be able to afford one with how expensive everything is,” she told us. 

Every age group is being hurt. Seniors have told us about rent that’s higher than their Social Security and disability checks. They’re worried about being evicted and being pushed out of a state they’ve lived in for their entire lives.

Younger adults are struggling to juggle rent and student loan payments. N., in New Haven, cares for her mother, but can’t move in with her because her mother would lose housing assistance.

N. said her rent goes up by more than $300 a year, and is now more than her income. She’s looking for a part-time job so that she can continue to live in the area.

She wants to be able to buy a house, purchase a car, save for an emergency, or return to school, but can’t afford it.

“[The cost of living] has affected me tremendously because I’m afraid to spend money on those things because I need to pay rent,” she told us.

The status quo is not sustainable. Something must be done to prevent working class people from being priced out of Connecticut. 

Our people are the soul of our communities. We can’t afford to lose what makes our state special.

No one can thrive if they don’t have a place to call home. But our state won’t become more affordable unless we demand change together. Join us in the fight for a better Connecticut so that everyone has the opportunity to thrive, no matter what their zip code is.