Connecticut SB 909: AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RIGHT TO HOUSING.

Bill Text

LCO No. 3175 1 of 6

General Assembly Raised Bill No. 909
January Session, 2023 LCO No. 3175

Referred to Committee on HOUSING

Introduced by:
(HSG)

AN ACT ESTABLISHING A RIGHT TO HOUSING.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:

Section 1. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) It shall be the goal of this 1
state to implement policies that respect, protect and fulfill a right to 2
affordable, decent, safe and stable housing for every resident of this 3
state. 4
(b) Each state agency, as defined in section 1-79 of the general 5
statutes, and each political subdivision of the state, in implementing the 6
provisions of this section, shall: 7
(1) Consider the right to housing under subsection (a) of this section 8
and the components of such right set forth in subsection (c) of this 9
section when adopting or revising policies, regulations or grant criteria 10
that implicate, impact or affect such right; 11
(2) When implementing such policies, regulations or grant criteria, 12
give priority to assisting families of low and moderate income, as 13
defined in section 8-39 of the general statutes; and 14

Raised Bill No. 909

LCO No. 3175 2 of 6

(3) To the extent practicable, attempt to serve households currently 15
experiencing homelessness or at risk of housing loss and those in the 16
lower range of the income group to which the agency's or political 17
subdivision's programs are directed. 18
(c) The right to housing includes, but is not limited to, the following 19
components: 20
(1) The right to protection from housing loss: This right implicates 21
governmental programs that ensure the legal security of persons and 22
households at risk of losing housing or experiencing homelessness, 23
including eviction prevention programs, legal assistance in evictions, 24
financial assistance, support services and problem-solving counseling; 25
(2) The right to safe housing that meets all basic needs: This right 26
implicates the internal habitability of the home as well as the necessary 27
services and infrastructure to support a healthy and dignified standard 28
of living; 29
(3) The right to housing and affordability: This right implicates 30
governmental programs that provide rental assistance, encourage the 31
maintenance, repair and rehabilitation of existing housing and enlarge 32
the stock of new low-cost housing, all of which ensure the ability to 33
secure and maintain housing without risking access to other essential 34
needs; 35
(4) The right to rehousing assistance for persons and households that 36
have become homeless: This right implicates governmental programs 37
that support the transition of persons experiencing homelessness to 38
long-term permanent housing that is affordable; and 39
(5) The right to recognition of special circumstances: This right 40
implicates the adaptation of governmental programs to ensure 41
accessibility to households facing particular obstacles to finding 42
affordable, decent, safe and stable housing, whether because of race, 43
religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, disability, 44
unemployment, criminal record, eviction history, family status, source 45

Raised Bill No. 909

LCO No. 3175 3 of 6

of income, immigration status, cultural traditions, having been victims 46
of fraud and financial manipulation or other obstacles. 47
Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective from passage) (a) There is established a right to 48
housing committee to review existing and proposed housing policies 49
and advise on (1) the state's implementation of a right to housing; and 50
(2) gaps and needs of vulnerable populations with regard to access to 51
permanent housing, including, but not limited to, (A) individuals 52
experiencing homelessness, including homeless youth, individuals with 53
disabilities, including physical disabilities and disabilities related to 54
mental health, substance abuse and developmental conditions; (B) 55
individuals with past or current criminal justice system involvement; 56
(C) individuals from historically marginalized racial and ethnic groups; 57
(D) individuals from historically marginalized groups based on sexual 58
orientation, gender identity or gender expression; (E) survivors of 59
sexual violence, domestic violence, dating violence, stalking and sexual 60
trafficking; (F) refugees and immigrants; and (G) veterans. 61
(b) The committee shall consist of the following members: 62
(1) Three appointed by the speaker of the House of Representatives, 63
one with expertise in homelessness policies and programs, one with 64
expertise in low-income housing policies and programs and one with 65
expertise in matters relating to evictions and housing court; 66
(2) Three appointed by the president pro tempore of the Senate, one 67
with expertise in fair housing protections, one with expertise in the 68
development of low-income housing and one with expertise in, or 69
personal experience with, disability and housing insecurity