Hartford Foundation Submits Testimony in Support of H.B. 6892, An Act Concerning the State's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development

On Thursday, February 14, 2019, the Hartford Foundation submitted testimony to the Legislature’s Housing Committee in support of H.B. 6892, An Act Concerning the State's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.  The Foundation’s community and economic development work has included significant investments and partnerships around issues of affordable housing in Greater Hartford, not only for the development of housing, but also for support to planning efforts by community development corporations, for stipends for resident engagement, and for mobility outreach and guides for renters. Some of these investments have supported research and analysis: we are supporting a Hartford-wide survey and analysis of housing market conditions and contributed to opportunity mapping of Connecticut.

The Hartford Foundation supports H.B. 6892 because this bill will help residents understand the state’s efforts to develop affordable housing by consolidating data from multiple agencies and reporting on goals and progress in public planning documents. Multiple agencies provide housing supports and collect housing data, but these data are scattered, preventing a holistic view on community and economic development efforts. If approved, this effort cost-effectively consolidate data collection requirements, provide better affordable housing data to the public, and help the state and other parties interested in housing to allocate resources in a more efficient and equitable manner.

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Testimony Supporting H.B. 6892, An Act Concerning the State's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development
Housing Committee
February 14, 2019

Senator Dennis, Representative McGee, Senator Hwang, Representative Dauphinais, and distinguished members of the Housing Committee, the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is grateful for this opportunity to submit written testimony in support of H.B. 6892, An Act Concerning the State's Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.

The Hartford Foundation for Public Giving is the community foundation for the 29-town Greater Hartford region. As a community foundation, we manage, grow, and distribute approximately $1 billion in assets to promote equitable opportunity for all residents in our region, particularly in the areas of education, community safety, and community and economic development. Our community and economic development work has included significant investments and partnerships around issues of affordable housing in Greater Hartford, not only for the development of housing, but also for support to planning efforts by community development corporations, for stipends for resident engagement, and for mobility outreach and guides for renters. Some of these investments have supported research and analysis: we are supporting a Hartford-wide survey and analysis of housing market conditions and contributed to opportunity mapping of Connecticut.

The Hartford Foundation supports H.B. 6892 because this bill will help residents understand the state’s efforts to develop affordable housing by consolidating data from multiple agencies and reporting on goals and progress in public planning documents. Multiple agencies provide housing supports and collect housing data, but these data are scattered, preventing a holistic view on community and economic development efforts.

This bill will enable philanthropy, nonprofits, municipalities and developers to better advance our shared goals for affordable housing:

• Setting forth housing goals and affordable housing allocations in public plans will inform both public and private investment. Determining whether housing developments are consistent with public plans, such as the plans of conservation and development, is part of the assessment process we use for investments. Adding these goals to plans will facilitate the process of making smart investments.
  
  
• The Hartford Foundation was part of the leadership behind the region’s recently completed Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy, Metro Hartford Future. The strategy identified housing production as a critical component for economic development in the region, and a part of ‘placemaking’ strategies. Data on housing goals is also a support for economic development in the region.

We strongly encourage the committee to support this bill, which would cost-effectively consolidate data collection requirements, provide better affordable housing data to the public, and help the state and other parties interested in housing to allocate resources in a more efficient and equitable manner.

Thank you for the opportunity to provide testimony. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact our staff at policy@hfpg.org or 860-548-1888.