H.B. 5533, An Act Concerning the State’s Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development

State and federal law require the Connecticut Department of Housing to issue regular reports on how the state is working to create fair, affordable housing. But in practice, the state has failed to meet the spirit of this duty. Current reports produce only piecemeal data, and the way it is presented makes it difficult for the public to know whether the state is meeting its obligation to affirmatively further fair housing. By requiring the Department of Housing to set tangible goals and measure progress on an annual basis, this bill would create an important window into whether and how the state is meeting its fair housing responsibilities. In the process, this bill could help to provide Connecticut residents with access to the information necessary to help understand the state’s housing problems and hold the government accountable. For these reasons, the ACLU of Connecticut supports House Bill 5533.