Skyrocketing Housing Costs, Lack Of Stock Topic Of Newington Forum

NEWINGTON, CT — Three area lawmakers are jointly hosting a special forum in Newington on Tuesday, April 15, on the skyrocketing cost of housing and the lack of available places to live.

The event will take place at 6 p.m. at the Lucy Robbins Welles Library, 100 Garfield St., Newington.

It is being hosted by state Rep. Gary Turco, D-Newington, state Rep. Kate Farrar, D-West Hartford, and state Sen. Matthew Lesser, D-Middletown.

The trio will host a panel of speakers include Matt Pugliese (deputy commissioner, state Department of Economic and Community Development), Chelsea Ross (executive director, Partnership for Strong Communities), Caitlin Rose (CEO, Friendship Service Center), Michael Santoro (director, Department of Housing), and Robert Counihan (chairman, Newington Housing Authority).

"Like much of the country, Connecticut has a housing crisis that will require a holistic approach to address," wrote the legislative trio in a release.

"Indeed, some estimates put the number of units the state needs to build at over 100,000. The dearth in stock has led to spiking rents and single-home prices.

"Numerous bills to bring down costs and build new housing have passed out of committee for the full legislature to consider, though none would be a silver bullet."

The legislators and panel members will discuss the current situation, how it happned, and what proposed legislation would do.