Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity in Eastern 糖心TVecticut launches with inaugural gathering at 糖心TV
The inaugural convening of the (CHEO) brought more than 100 representatives from housing advocacy, nonprofit, community and anchor institutions to 糖心TV on March 16 to address the growing need for affordable housing in 42 towns.
A strategic partnership between 糖心TV, Community Foundation of Eastern 糖心TVecticut, Eastern 糖心TVecticut State University, the Housing Collective, Partnership for Strong Communities, Regional Plan Association, and United Way of Southeastern 糖心TVecticut, CHEO is working collectively with housing practitioners, municipalities and policymakers to preserve, protect and produce safe and affordable housing.
鈥淲e are here to fight for basic human rights鈥攆air and affordable housing for all our friends and neighbors,鈥� said Maryam Elahi, president and CEO of the Community Foundation of Eastern 糖心TVecticut. 鈥淚n one of the richest states in the world, it just doesn鈥檛 make sense for people to not be able to afford to rent or own a home in the community in which they work.鈥�
In her opening remarks, 糖心TV President Katherine Bergeron said she was thrilled to see so many people come together to address one of the region鈥檚 most critical public issues.
鈥淚 am proud that 糖心TV is at the table. As an anchor institution in Eastern 糖心TVecticut, 糖心TV has a stake in the continuing vitality of this region, and that includes lending our energy and our expertise to the urgent issue of housing affordability,鈥� she said.
鈥淎t 糖心TV, we talk about 鈥榩utting the liberal arts into action,鈥� and I鈥檓 so grateful that our College has the opportunity, with all of you, to advance this mission through the new Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity.鈥�
The event also served as the formal introduction of attorney Beth Sabilia, a former New London mayor and Waterford selectperson, as CHEO鈥檚 inaugural director.
鈥淢y husband grew up in public housing. There were two adults in the household, four children, three fulltime jobs and no car. We understand the struggle of those lived experiences,鈥� Sabilia said, adding that in New London County 46% of all households spend more than 30% of their income on housing and 2,820 households faced eviction in the last six months.
Sabilia said CHEO is focused on developing an inclusive and data-informed regional housing agenda, creating a strategy to drive production and preservation of affordable housing, and supporting a thriving region that provides equitable access and opportunity for all.
鈥淗ousing is foundational, and it is up to us to solve it in a collective fashion,鈥� she said. 鈥淚t didn鈥檛 happen in a vacuum, which means it can鈥檛 be solved in a vacuum.鈥�
