2026 Agenda
Build Housing
Affirmative Fair Housing Protections
Led by Open Communities Alliance and Partners
The Trump administration has rolled back federal civil rights regulation requiring concrete state action to reverse the history of segregated housing investments. With 67% of government subsidized housing located in areas with above-average poverty, Connecticut’s subsidized housing investments limit choices for lower-income families. This proposal would improve Connecticut’s existing statute regarding Affirmatively Furthering Fair Housing by clarifying and streamlining reporting obligations about the location of Connecticut’s subsidized housing investments and establishing a system for goal-setting and outcome tracking.
Keep Housing
Just Cause Eviction
Led by the CT Fair Housing Center and Partners, including CT Tenants Union
For decades, landlords have needed a reason, including failure to pay rent or a lease violation, to evict seniors and people with disabilities from their rental units. Just Cause Eviction would expand these fair and effective Just Cause laws to cover all tenants, except those in owner-occupied one-to-four-unit buildings.
Funding for Rental Assistance Program
Led by Open Communities Alliance and the CT Coalition to End Homelessness
In the face of historic cuts to housing aid at the federal level and stagnant construction of new units partly attributable to restrictive zoning, it is more important than ever for state programs to meet the needs of people in Connecticut. The state-funded Rental Assistance Program runs alongside the federal Housing Choice Voucher program, and offers help for thousands of families in need. While waiting for longer-term zoning reform measures to generate more housing, more money and more vouchers are needed to keep people housed. Growing Together is requesting funding to support 3,400 new state vouchers.
Support for Homelessness Response
Led by Connecticut Coalition to End Homelessness
To preserve life, reduce preventable harm, and restore flow from unhoused to housed, Connecticut should adopt a single, integrated annual investment package totaling $31.6 million, plus a $10 million Housing Crisis Response Fund.
Support CT Families
Benefits Cliff
Led by Mothers and Others for Justice and Partners
Small changes in life circumstances, such as unexpected overtime income or when a child over 18 returns home, can lead to drastic reductions of support for people who receive public assistance. This proposal would ensure that benefit eligibility for certain state-funded programs is not improperly jeopardized by such life events.
Child Tax Credit
Led by Connecticut Voices for Children
Times of great economic challenge take a particularly heavy toll on families with children. This plan would establish a fully refundable state-level child tax credit of $600 per child, up to $1,800 per household, to help mitigate income and wealth disparities and bolster economic stability for families, all while helping the economy grow stronger.
Reform State Fiscal Controls
Led by Connecticut Voices for Children
Connecticut’s spending cap and volatility cap are severely limiting lawmakers’ ability to respond quickly and effectively to federal uncertainty. By adjusting the volatility cap, lawmakers can free up resources that are needed to hold children and families harmless.
While working toward passing these agenda items, Growing Together CT is committed to protecting hard-won gains. With the passage of a major housing reform law in 2025, implementation will take center stage, along with defending the law from attacks that have already started. At the same time, the Affordable Housing Appeals Act known as 8-30g can also be expected to face pressure, and it’s essential to keep that necessary law in place.