Resource Library

This training hosted by the Northwest Hills Council of Governments covers the basics of affordable housing, your Commission’s obligations under the CT Zoning Enabling Act (CGS 8-2) as it pertains to Housing Diversity, an overview of the Affordable Housing Land Use Appeals Act (CGS 8-30g), your Commission’s obligations Under Fair Housing Act, and a summary of the Planning & Zoning related provisions in HB 8002 (An Act Concerning Housing Growth).

This discussion will explore the practical aspects of managing community land trusts, nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. Brenda Torpy of Champlain Housing Trust, the country's largest community land trust, will share her insight and experience.

Community land trusts (CLTs) are nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. During this discussion, leaders from community land trusts in Connecticut share real-world examples of land trusts in action—ranging from urban multi-unit developments to suburban scattered-site homes and rural projects. You will gain insights into how CLTs operate, their relationships with local governments, and how they support residents’ long-term success through training, collaboration, and equitable land stewardship. This webinar was part of a three-part series, Building Community with Community Land Trusts.

Community land trusts are nonprofit organizations that help preserve housing affordability in rural, suburban, and urban communities. This discussion with Jason Webb or Grounded Solutions Network will introduce the concept of community land trusts and explain how they work.

Sarah Pavone, Director of Strategy for Journey Home, a nonprofit leading efforts to end homelessness in Connecticut's Capital Region, shared insights from her organization's Encampment to Housing initiative. This innovative program aimed to house 200 individuals over two years by combining direct outreach, landlord partnerships, and long-term support services.

Several landlords in western Connecticut share their experiences renting to at-risk populations and working with public and private programs that support housing stability.

Landlords and property owners play a vital role in supporting tenant stability. For those renting to individuals with lived experience of homelessness, understanding potential challenges is essential to building strong, mutually beneficial relationships.

This session – held in collaboration with the United Way of Greater Waterbury—focused on how rental subsidies work and how landlords can use them to support stable, long-term tenant relationships.

This webinar explores how emergency shelters can be redesigned to support people experiencing homelessness by focusing on housing outcomes. It highlights strategies for creating low-barrier, trauma-informed shelter environments that prioritize safety, dignity, and easy access. The discussion includes how shelters can integrate the voices of people with lived experience and align more closely with permanent housing goals to improve overall system effectiveness.