FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE | CT HOUSING PARTNERS CEO RENÉE DOBOS JOINS SENATOR BLUMENTHAL “CALL TO ACTION” FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS
Rowena White
VIDEO LINK HERE: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTMIal5u304
APRIL 20, 2023
-FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE-
CONNECTICUT HOUSING PARTNERS CEO RENÉE DOBOS JOINS ROUNDTABLE HOSTED BY SENATOR BLUMENTHAL “CALL TO ACTION” FOR FEDERAL FUNDING TO SUPPORT AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROGRAMS
Blumenthal Pledges to Request $2.3 Billion to Address Housing Crisis
(Trumbull, CT) – Renée Dobos, CEO of Connecticut Housing Partners (CHP) joined Tom Cruess of NeighborWorks with Senator Blumenthal for a Roundtable discussion and call to action to address the housing crisis in Connecticut. Currently, the state of Connecticut has a shortage of 85,000 housing units and counting.
In his opening remarks, Senator Blumenthal stated, “…Average Americans, hard-working, Connecticut residents can’t afford to buy or rent. Housing has become completely unaffordable. Access to housing has never been more difficult in recent history.”
Affordable housing is a critical issue in Connecticut, and the need for funding to support affordable housing initiatives is more urgent than ever. The HOME Investment Partnership Program (aka HOME Program) allows state and local government to use as they see fit in order to meet the needs of their communities. The HOME Program is a vital tool for organizations like NeighborWorks and CT Housing Partners who are boots on the ground actively addressing the housing crisis throughout the state. Federal funding for these programs must be prioritized to meet the growing demand for housing.
In Connecticut, NeighborWorks partners with local communities to provide affordable housing solutions for low-income families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. They also appropriate funds to NeighborWorks Chartered members, like CHP, who are building high-quality affordable housing and workforce developments. These units are essential to help bridge the gap between affordable housing supply and demand in the state.
Tom Cruess, NeighborWorks “Our primary focus is real estate development and the building of affordable housing units. We also provide home buyer training, budget coaching, landlord training and supportive educational programs that create strong housing choices and opportunities in a community that strengthen neighborhoods.”
Renée Dobos stated, “Affordable housing is critical, because affordable housing prevents homelessness. Many individuals and families are just one crisis away from being homeless; the death of a wage earner in the household, tragic illness that has become debilitating and expensive, illness from a minimum wage job that does not provide health insurance.
Furthermore, affordable housing supports our economy. As the Governor is trying to attract new businesses to our state, one of the first questions he’s asked is “where are my workers going to live.” The health of our economy is vitally linked to affordable housing and making sure that workers in our communities have a place to live.”
Senator Blumenthal agreed, that “If we don’t have affordable houses, we’re not going to have a talented energetic workforce that attracts those businesses to Connecticut.
The fact of the matter is that housing is an investment. Housing, or homes once they are built, will be there for families for years to come. It will make housing generally more affordable, it’s good for Connecticut business and our economy, it provides jobs, it enables kids to go to school.”
The COVID-19 pandemic amplified the need for affordable housing, and the HOME Program along with organizations like NeighborWorks and CHP have become more crucial in ensuring that vulnerable populations have access to safe and affordable housing. With the pandemic's economic impacts, many people have lost their jobs, and more families are struggling to make ends meet, making affordable housing a more urgent priority.
During this critical roundtable discussion, Senator Blumenthal announced that he is joining his colleagues in requesting $2.1 billion for the HOME Program, the only federal block grant program for state and local governments designed exclusively to produce affordable housing for low-income families. In addition, Blumenthal is urging $185 million in FY 2024 funding for NeighborWorks, a national nonprofit that supports community-based housing initiatives here in Connecticut. Connecticut Housing Partners hopes to benefit from this funding to support their mission of building more affordable units for individuals and families in the state.
ABOUT CONNECTICUT HOUSING PARTNERS:
Connecticut Housing Partners is creating systematic change and sustainable solutions for individuals and families that will strengthen our communities. CHP measurably transforms lives and communities by providing a sustainable solution to end the housing crisis. CHP develops, builds and preserves high-quality affordable housing to increase access and quantity of units available, while using a partnership-based and community-led approach to maximize impact and reach. https://cthousingpartners.org/
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MEDIA CONTACT Rowena White | 203-257-0031
Greetings media friends!
Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or are seeking further information from Connecticut Housing Partners. We know that the housing crisis in Connecticut is dire, and there is much to talk about on the subject. CT Housing Partners is boots on the ground saving individuals and families from homelessness while building affordable developments that become sustainable and secure homes that transforms lives. Thank you for considering the above subject matter for editorial purposes.
Best,
Rowena