Racial Justice Coalition Leads Call for Housing Action

The New Britain Racial Justice Coalition led an event, with City Council members and activists to call for action to address housing costs, unavailability and poor living conditions.

Coalition Director Alicia Strong was joined by housing activists in calling for more action to make housing available and direct the community’s resources help city residents.

Joining the event were the City Council’s Majority Leader, Ald. John McNamara (D-4) and fellow Council Democrats, Ald. Candyce Scott (D-3) and Ald. Nate Simpson (D-1).

Scott spoke about speaking with people in her Council district about the great needs for quality, affordable housing and passionately spoke about the need to action for the people of the city.

She cited an article in the New Britain Progressive by by former Ald. Aram Ayalon about housing security and federal funds made available to the city for affordable housing.

Simpson spoke about the unfairness of residents of the city paying higher taxes, while wealthy developers have received large tax breaks that make it so that they are not paying for city services. He spoke about gentrified rent increases pushing up rents in the city, in general.

Activists spoke about pressing for public policy action to address the housing needs in the city, but also about finding strength together by organizing as a tenants’ union.

The Coalition is also asking people in the community to sign an online petition on housing in the New Britain Community, calling for action from Mayor Erin Stewart and the City Council.

The petition calls for,

• Expansion of Shelter Beds and Housing First Plan:

• Substantially increase the available shelter beds to accommodate the growing number of individuals experiencing homelessness. There are only 44 additional beds available for the cold weather season.

• Implement a comprehensive Housing First plan to address the root causes of homelessness and provide stable housing solutions. The plan should address housing access for people with disabilities, the elderly, youth, families with children, people struggling with addiction and formerly incarcerated people.

• Decriminalization of Houselessness:

• Repeal ordinances leading to the criminalization of individuals experiencing houselessness, particularly those sleeping in tents or frequenting downtown areas.

• Stop issuing loitering fines that disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, often leading to unnecessary jail time.

• Affordable Housing and Fair Eviction Practices:

• Fund and develop affordable housing initiatives to ensure access to decent and reasonably priced homes for all residents of New Britain.

• Publicize and educate the community about the Fair Rent Commission.

• Provide support and resources to tenants facing evictions.

• Enforcement of Safe and Healthy Housing Conditions:

• Enforce regulations to ensure that all residents, regardless of their housing situation, have access to safe and healthy living conditions.

• Increase the number of health inspectors to enforce health codes

• End Tax Breaks for Unaffordable Luxury Housing:

• End tax breaks for wealthy developers engaged in the construction of unaffordable luxury housing.

• Equitably distribute resources, redirecting incentives to projects that contribute to the development of genuinely affordable housing options for the community.