fairfield housing advocates speak against ending rent moratorium
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By Jarret Llotta | Published on August 31, 2021
FAIRFIELD, CT — The U.S. Supreme Court's decision to lift a moratorium on rent because of economic hardships related to the pandemic moved state Sen. Tony Hwang, R-28, to hold an awareness and information news conference Monday afternoon outside of Operation Hope.
"This is going to create an unimaginable spike in need and evictions," he said. "And I don't believe we're prepared for it."
Hwang, who spoke about the importance of federal housing support in his own formative years as a first-generation immigrant to the United States, was joined by representatives of several groups focused on homelessness, affordable housing and landlord advocacy.
He called ending the eviction protection "terrible timing," and said the protection buffer "served as a lifeline for people struggling with employment, health and other challenges, which were exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic."
"We're really just at the precipice of something we're not sure we even have a grasp on," said Carla Miklos, executive director of Operation Hope.
She said that more than 45,000 households in Connecticut are currently behind on their rent, while another 160,000 aren't sure how they're going to make their payment for the month ahead.
Meanwhile, she said, the number of eviction proceedings executed by landlords has more than tripled since before the pandemic.
"That's a lot of people," Miklos said.
Small-time landlords who are dependent upon their rental income are also suffering.
Two representatives of the Connecticut Coalition of Property Owners spoke on the impact to those small business operators, who in some cases are retirees with no other incomes.
"Landlords … don't want to put people out," explained John Souza, president. "That's our last resort."
Instead, he said, members of his coalition are hoping to be "part of the solution" by working with the system, encouraging those tenants in jeopardy to reach out to available resources.
"In an eviction the landlord is the victim," board member Rick Bush said, noting that it's much easier to have reliable tenants.
"You really want to work things out," he said. "You're not looking to displace people."
Souza said, however, that a small number of people who are "gaming the system" make it extra hard for landlords and force their hands.
Beyond these issues, Fairfield County in particular is experiencing a major shortage of affordable housing, with rental prices in some cases having tripled.
"The demand greatly outweighs the supply," said Carol Martin, executive director of Fairfield's Housing Authority. "It's your basic Economics 101."
"We need to start building and creating more units," she said. "It's a big problem and COVID has exacerbated it."
"Without more affordable housing, we will never get to the end of this crisis," echoed Helen McAlinden, president and CEO of Westport-based Homes with Hope.
She called the Supreme Court's ruling deeply disappointing as it impacts elderly, sick people, and families with young children who are facing extreme challenges.
"This is not right in a rich state like Connecticut," she said.
"We call on the state and local municipalities to take action," she said.
Resources for tenants and landlords are available through the state's Department of Housing website: portal.ct.gov/DOH/DOH/Programs/UniteCT.