Moving from a small town in Westchester, New York, to renting a house in Bridgeport last year has opened my eyes to the stark reality of housing disparities. The prevalence of homelessness and difficult living conditions just down the street from my home was something I haven’t encountered until now.

As the cost of living continues to rise, the search for affordable housing in Connecticut has become more than a simple struggle. It is a challenge for many that commands urgent attention and action. Numerous residents are confronting the reality everyday of inaccessible housing options and the negative effects that housing unaffordability leads to such as health issues, elevated crime rates, and homelessness.

Housing security and housing disparities are major problems Connecticut is facing right now. Bridgeport accounts for at least 40 percent of Fairfield County’s homeless population. Bridgeport has a high poverty rate of 23.2% and a lot of the population struggles on low incomes. Because of that many residents face issues affording house costs or rent. Furthermore, there is a shortage of affordable housing in Bridgeport because of the rising costs of housing and stagnant wages.

Many residents lack safe and stable housing options because there is a considerably greater demand for affordable housing than there is supply of it. Additionally, Bridgeport has a history of discriminatory housing practices, such as segregation and redlining, which have had a long-lasting effect on housing possibilities for underrepresented communities. Disparities in housing security and housing patterns are influenced by these past injustices.

The local housing affordability crisis means that 200 people are reported homeless in Bridgeport on any given night. MaryAnn Gardner, who oversees programs with Bridgeport Rescue Mission nonprofit, said she has seen homelessness get even worse over the past two years. Many are living in tents on the side of the road or uninhabited buildings. It’s unfortunate to think about how many families are living out of their cars as well.

A lot of the homelessness in Bridgeport results from residents being evicted due to an increase in rent prices. Maryann has said she “saw an increase in people lining up for donations and an increased demand for food from food pantries” as well.

Connecticut can start to address these problems and allow more affordable housing for their residents by passing S.B. 6 which is an act concerning housing. This bill could address community and public health needs by making sure there is access to safe and abiding housing which is a necessity for one’s well-being. It can help reduce numbers of homelessness, and overcrowding of housing which affects one’s health negatively. If the bill is approved, it would likely make affordable housing more available, raise housing quality standards, and possibly provide funding for housing assistance programs. These changes would improve the well-being and health of Connecticut residents by giving them secure and suitable housing options.

Some may not see a need for this bill to be passed because they aren’t facing the same disparities as others. Residents who are more privileged and aren’t facing these struggles may oppose this bill, particularly if they fear that the presence of affordable housing in their neighborhood could lower property values or would change the look and feel of their neighborhood.

[RELATED: Wide-ranging CT affordable housing bill sparks familiar arguments]

Many residents may not want this ultimately because they prioritize their own interests rather than recognizing the needs of those neighbors who would benefit from the passage of this bill. I call on my fellow privileged neighbors to have empathy for our neighbors who are struggling to make ends meet with the unprecedented cost of housing. Addressing the housing affordability crisis will benefit our entire community. 

Affordable housing is not just an economic policy issue in Connecticut; it is a vital necessity for social justice and community well-being. As we’ve seen, the absence of options for affordable housing has serious repercussions that impact people individually, in families, and throughout entire communities.

By implementing a comprehensive plan that includes measures like increasing funding for affordable housing initiatives, offering incentives to developers to build more affordable apartments, and enacting legislation to protect tenants from unjust rent increases, we can begin to make progress.

[RELATED: CT affordable housing bill passes committee — with some funding removed]

Connecticut has to make sure everyone has access to safe, stable, and affordable housing. It should be a primary concern for advocates and legislators.

Bridget Kelly is a student at Sacred Heart University.