Friends,

Connecticut faces one of the most constrained housing supplies in the nation. The statewide shortage affects residents at nearly all income levels, driving up costs for working families, discouraging business investment, limiting opportunities for young people, and worsening homelessness. Simply put, the status quo is unsustainable. While progress has been made in recent years, we must do more. Our housing crisis is holding Connecticut back.

There is no one-size-fits-all solution. Real progress requires collaboration between the private sector—who build homes—and municipal leaders who shape local development. As Connecticut continues to attract new talent and industry, our housing infrastructure must support that growth.

Over the past several months, I’ve worked with state lawmakers, local officials, housing advocates, and nonprofit partners to craft a proposal that delivers real results. One key lesson has been clear: local leaders must be part of the solution. This updated proposal reflects extensive collaboration and input from across the state from Republicans, Democrats, municipal leaders, and advocates alike.

There has been a lot of misinformation surrounding our housing efforts. So, let’s be clear about what this bill does. It empowers municipalities to take the lead in designing local housing strategies. Working through their Councils of Governments (COGs), towns and cities will decide together how to meet regional housing needs over the next five years, using data on demand, changing demographics, and employment opportunities. The state will then come in to support our local communities with funding for infrastructure, transit, and schools.

The bill also modernizes outdated parking mandates. Some towns have used parking mandates to make it more expensive and difficult to build housing. This bill reduces regulation by exempting small residential development from parking mandates, except when necessary for health or safety. However, here in Connecticut, we have some neighborhoods that are already parking constrained, and in those areas towns may impose reasonable parking requirements.

More importantly, this bill encourages communities to look towards empty office buildings, malls, parking lots, and vacant sites in developed areas for new housing development. It also makes sure we protect our forests, farms, and open space—thus preserving the beauty of our great state. Creating walkable communities is good for our environment and good for our residents.

Voters have made it clear that affordability and opportunity, especially access to housing, are top priorities. Connecticut has already invested $713 million in affordable housing, resulting in 7,000 units currently under construction. This bill builds on that momentum. By empowering local leaders, expanding affordability, and fostering collaboration, we can make homeownership, and opportunity, within reach for more Connecticut residents, creating a stronger and more inclusive future for our state.

Warm regards,

Ned Lamont