Why We Are “Pro-Homes”
We’re fighting for homes. A home is not just a shelter that you might rent or own. It’s also a portal to a broader community of people, ideas, and opportunities. It’s a connection to a place that has a past, present, and future.
To be Pro-Homes is to believe that a thriving economy, more equitable communities, and a cleaner environment will make Connecticut a safe and exciting home for all of us.
Connecticut has not been pro-homes. Many communities have closed that portal and severed those connections through exclusionary land use policies. Some of the people who support these policies think Connecticut won’t continue to grow or shouldn’t. They want to freeze Connecticut in an image that was simply not accessible for many people, particularly in communities of color. Everyone in our state suffers from maintaining the status quo.
Smart, well-researched changes to outdated land use laws are essential to people of all incomes and backgrounds having safe, affordable homes near jobs, schools, and other resources. With zoning reform, we can boost our economy, make our communities more equitable, and protect our environment. We can help the Connecticut we love flourish and live up to its full potential.
GREATER EQUITY
Let’s create equitable, diverse communities by reversing land use rules that cause segregation.
Racially diverse neighborhoods have lower income gaps by race, suggesting that more diverse neighborhoods can reduce racial disparities in access to grocery stores, child care, and vital services. Studies show that children of low-income families who live in income-diverse neighborhoods make more money, go to college at higher rates, and have measurably better life outcomes. Our land use laws exacerbate inequality, and our state is one of the most segregated places in the country. We have the opportunity to respond to this historical moment and forge the racially and economically diverse communities we want to live in.
INCLUSIVE PROSPERITY
Let’s create an inclusive economy by building housing people need and want.
Restrictive zoning, costly review processes, and arbitrary impediments have ensured our housing supply is at the lowest number of permits in a decade (just 3,335 in 2021). In part because these drive up prices reducing supply (especially linking supply and rents in low-income areas), one in six families in our state pay more than 50% of their income on housing. Our businesses constantly cite the high cost of living as a barrier for finding and retaining skilled workers. Yet Connecticut’s population is declining. Our land use laws prevent us from attracting and retaining racially and economically diverse populations. Why not further modernize these laws for today?
A CLEANER ENVIRONMENT
Let’s make a cleaner Connecticut by putting housing in already-developed areas, not forest and farmland.
Zoning laws that lock in sprawl make us use more land for housing - which gobbles up farmland and forest and pollutes our waterways. Connecticut’s land use laws are contributing to the international climate emergency. We can use existing streets, sidewalks, sewers, water lines, and stormwater systems. We can strengthen walkable communities while reducing carbon dioxide emissions. We can continue to reduce or eliminate costly parking mandates, which research shows leads to more driving. Check out a video of a “Land Use Policy is Climate Policy” panel that links zoning and environment.
DesegregateCT Founder Testifies to the Legislature about the “Why” of Zoning Reform: