When you think about Connecticut, what comes to mind? Many will picture beautiful estates, country clubs, and extreme wealth. Connecticut is home to some of the wealthiest towns in America. But it’s not all perfectly manicured lawns and waterfront properties. The stark reality behind this picture-perfect reputation that Connecticut has earned is a shocking divide in wealth, a growing poverty rate, and a housing system that is, frankly, a mess.

It’s glaringly obvious to anyone who’s driven across different parts of Connecticut. Neighborhoods are largely segregated by income and race. It’s time we pay attention to impoverished residents who have been neglected and left out of the picture.

Connecticut is one of the most racially and economically segregated states in the country. In particular, Bridgeport and Hartford “remain among the most segregated in the nation in terms of race and ethnicity and among the highest in income inequality,” reports Jacqueline Rabe Thomas of the Connecticut Insider.

Lawmakers have not adequately addressed the stark economic divide which disproportionately impacts people of color and other marginalized groups. Historically, policies systematically excluded Black families from equitable housing. Redlining was a discriminatory practice where financial services from banks or insurance companies denied services to predominantly Black communities.

This left entire communities without the opportunity for upward mobility. These policies have left a dark legacy, continuing to create racial divides between neighborhoods, with families of color more likely to live in neighborhoods with low-quality housing.

While redlining is illegal today, there have been many more discriminatory practices since. For example, reverse redlining aimed to fortify conditions of poverty. Segregated neighborhoods that were previously denied credit, became targets for predatory lenders who sold subprime loans at extremely high interest rates. These lenders knew that many families would never be able to pay off the debt, leading to bankruptcies and foreclosures that disproportionately impacted people of color. The division is a direct result of exclusionary zoning and discriminatory practices. It is imperative that we name this issue for what it is: Racism.

Connecticut lawmakers have a responsibility to serve their communities, and they have not done an adequate job when it comes to housing. A 2020 report from the National Low Income Housing Coalition expressed that Connecticut has a severe shortage of affordable rental homes.

Exclusionary zoning and lack of affordable housing have prevented many families of color from moving into upper-class neighborhoods, which also, in turn, impacts the quality of education their children receive. Furthermore, the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated housing inequality. Rates of eviction skyrocketed, and marginalized communities took the brunt of it.

It’s clear that housing impacts so many other facets of life. Where a person grows up is a defining factor of life expectancy and a determinant of overall health and well-being: “Those growing up just a few blocks apart in different municipalities have drastically different outcomes in life,” Thomas reported. For example, children who grow up in segregated neighborhoods have higher rates of incarceration and teenage pregnancy and are more likely to work in lower paying or minimum wage jobs. It would cost, on average, 3.5 times more to live in areas with ‘well-resourced, high-performing schools in Connecticut, one of the largest disparities in the country,” Thomas wrote. Connecticut’s House Majority Leader, Jason Rojas of East Hartford, expressed that “There are serious ramifications for people, for communities, and for our state to continue to not address this issue.”

I’m calling on Connecticut lawmakers and representatives to advocate for an expansion of affordable housing, especially options that are integrated in wealthier neighborhoods. It should be noted that there is much controversy over this. Many members of affluent neighborhoods are opposed to the integration of affordable housing. There is an attitude present that the suburban utopia will be “tainted” by apartment buildings and low-income housing. This perspective has inherent undertones of white supremacy.

Tackling this issue requires bold action. I’m also calling on local governments to invest into their low-income neighborhoods, rather than contributing to gentrification, which increases costs of living and displaces families, some of whom have been living in their homes for generations.

Housing is part of a much larger issue, as is education, crime, health, etc. To tackle any and all of these issues, we must look at the broader picture. I am calling on all legislators to advocate for any policies or initiatives that allow low-income families to build wealth and provide a path to economic stability.

Kayla Bell lives in Norwalk.