February 2, 2012

MALLOY UNVEILS AFFORDABLE HOUSING PLAN FOR CONN.
Rep. Butler pledges support

Gov. Dannel P. Malloy announced Wednesday he wants to boost state spending on affordable housing by $330 million, dedicating most of it over the next decade to fixing up dilapidated and vacant public housing units across Connecticut. The Democrat told a group of housing advocates that his latest proposal is in addition to the more than $130 million allocated last year to bolster supportive and affordable housing. He maintains that housing is a key to improving the state's economy.

CHRISTINE STUART PHOTO

"Taken together, this represents the largest commitment to affordable housing in decades," Malloy said. "For too long, Connecticut has built too little affordable housing and we need to jumpstart those efforts and we do so today."

About 10 percent of the 1,400 units of state-funded affordable housing in Connecticut are currently vacant or uninhabitable, said Dara Kovel, chief housing officer at the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. Under Malloy's proposal, which calls for $30 million in additional state borrowing for public housing each year over 10 years, about 300 units could be fixed up and put back online by next year, with more to follow.

State Rep. Larry Butler, D-Waterbury, co-chairman of the General Assembly's housing committee, said Malloy's plan will help put a dent in the long waiting lists for public housing. In his city, he said there are currently 1,500 people waiting for housing. He said some could wait as long as five years.

"We have so much public housing out there that is in need of repair. And that money is going to help (make) a lot more housing to be available to all of our municipalities," Butler said.

Malloy's plan also adds $20 million to the $50 million that's already in the two-year state budget for affordable housing projects; adds $12.5 million to help rehabilitate the state's elderly congregate housing program and develop about 50 new units of elderly housing; and sets aside an additional $1.5 million in rental assistance.

Additionally, the governor said he wants to reorganize the state's housing functions under a new State Office of Housing, which will be located within the Department of Economic and Community Development. He said there are currently a number of offices that handle housing matters and are located in several state agencies.

Senate Minority Leader John McKinney, R-Fairfield, voiced support for Malloy's housing proposal in a written statement distributed by the governor's office. McKinney, who favors affordable and supportive housing, pledged to work with the governor on the initiative when the new legislative session opens next week.