Lamont Unveils Commitments for Housing Policy in Connecticut

NEW HAVEN, Connecticut, Oct. 12 -- Ned Lamont, a Democrat running for Connecticut Governor, issued the following campaign news release:

Democratic gubernatorial nominee Ned Lamont announced on Friday that his administration would address numerous housing challenges faced by hundreds of thousands of Connecticut families.

With costs of living rising and the middle class feeling financially burdened by high tax rates, Lamont's new policies aim to put housing back within reach of the state's residents.

Lamont's proposal seeks to expand affordability, while his Republican opponent, Bob Stefanowski, has proposed a tax scheme that would devastate families who are already struggling by eliminating town aid from the state budget. This would force property taxes on houses, businesses, apartments and cars to skyrocket. Lamont is the only candidate who has proposed relief for taxpayers by reducing other property tax breaks for seniors and veterans.

Connecticut currently ranks among the 10 least-affordable housing markets in America, with 1 in 9 middle-class families spending at least 30 percent of their income on housing costs, and 1 in 4 renters spending half their income on rent alone. The Southeastern Connecticut Council of Government's recent housing needs assessment found that 30 percent of all homeowners and 48 percent of renters are currently cost-burdened -- sharp increases since 2000. The cost of housing leaves families with less money for life's other necessities, discourages companies from growing their Connecticut workforce and dissuades people from staying in-state.

"If we want to grow our economy, we must make our state more affordable. All across Connecticut, millennials are looking to raise families in their home state, while first-year teachers, first responders and certified nursing assistants are struggling to pay rent in the communities they serve. We have to make it easier not just by lowering property taxes, but by developing housing that people can actually afford. It's critical to growing jobs," said Lamont. "Building more housing is a must to help residents stay in Connecticut, while supporting local businesses and growing local economies. The economic multiplier effect of developing new housing is dramatic."

Southeastern Connecticut will add 23,000 new households by 2025. Building the range of housing options those residents and our employers need will drive our economy forward. Constructing 100 apartments typically creates 161 local jobs, $11.7 million in local income, and $2.2 million in taxes and other local government revenue. Once occupied, those same apartments will support 44 local jobs, $2.6 million in local income, and $503,000 in taxes and other local government revenue every year.

Public investment is key to unlocking further development. For every dollar the state has recently invested in affordable housing, it has leveraged 170 percent more private and non-state investment.Connecticut can dedicate hundreds of millions of additional dollars to housing construction by embracing philanthropic partnerships and leveraging the interest of social impact investors. Similar partnerships in Chicago have raised nearly $100 million dollars to provide low-interest funding for community development. Connecticut can do the same.

Believing that every Connecticut resident deserves a safe home that doesn't break the bank, Lamont has a plan to:

* Get shovel-ready projects underway by streamlining onerous permitting processes that prevent developments from being constructed on time and on budget.

* Increase resources for housing construction by conducting a top-to-bottom review of Connecticut's bonding priorities and by leveraging state funds into additional private investment. Last year, less than six percent of bonding went to housing.

* Help interested towns and councils of government plan effectively for additional development by directing state offices to provide technical assistance on request and by continuing grant programs supporting the transit-oriented developments that allow residents an easy and affordable commute while reducing traffic, pollution, and road damage.

"Developers with shovel-ready projects face delays imposed by the state government -- like long waits, sometimes more than a year, to close a financing arrangement with the state," said Lamont. "Delays and bureaucratic red tape drive up developers' costs and keep them from breaking ground. State government should be a partner, not an obstacle. Together with the private sector, we can leverage higher levels of investment to build the housing our communities need and drive economic activity."

Lamont recognizes we must not only build new homes, but also protect the physical and financial security of new and existing homeowners. Crippling property taxes, regionally uncompetitive electricity rates, and a stagnant economy strain family resources and contribute to an unacceptable reality: Connecticut has the 5th-highest foreclosure rate in the U.S.

"Owning a home is a critical part of the American Dream, and building value in the homes we own has always been part of America's path to the middle class," said Lamont. "The state can be part of a solution that makes Connecticut a safe, liveable place for all, and in a way that jumpstarts the economy and supports business growth."

Tens of thousands of Connecticut families have been impacted by the crumbling foundation crisis rendering their homes valueless -- even uninhabitable.

Tens of thousands of families live in pre-1978 homes where lead paint places children at risk of severe mental and physical impairment. The Department of Public Health estimates that more than 60,000 children across the state, including in towns like Vernon and West Hartford, are exposed to lead and that more than 2,000 children suffer from lead poisoning.

Tens of thousands of seniors who would prefer to age in place are being either driven out of their homes into institutional care or left to live in homes that present an undue risk of preventable falls.

And too many residents experiencing homelessness wake up each morning not knowing where they will be able to go sleep that night. Ending homelessness is the right thing to do for people in need and the smart thing to do for communities that squander resources when homelessness persists on streets, at shelters and in emergency rooms.

To address those issues, Lamont has said he will:

* Reduce property taxes by reversing Malloy's property tax hikes, by targeting additional property tax relief for working families in high-tax towns, and by encouraging towns to become more efficient.

* Help Connecticut homeowners facing financial crises hold onto their homes by preserving Jodi Rell's Foreclosure Mediation Program.

* Support homeowners affected by crumbling foundations by delivering the promised $100 million in state bonding, by partnering with Connecticut's scientists and building trades to develop cost-effective diagnostic methods and remediation solutions, and by working with local leaders, insurance companies, mortgagees, and the federal government on a fair resolution to the crisis.

* Protect children from lead poisoning by requiring health officials to notify local and state authorities whenever a child tests above 4 micrograms per deciliter and by working with landlords, including public housing authorities, to abate lead paint in residential properties.

* Allow seniors to live at home in safety and with dignity by expanding home- and community-based services and by replicating successful interventions such as a Johns Hopkins pilot that reduced falls and improved independence by funding minor home improvements like installing grab bars and stapling down loose carpets.

* Further reduce homelessness by continuing to implement the "housing first" approach that has made Connecticut a national leader in helping those experiencing homelessness get back on their feet.