Candidates Pressed For Affordable Housing Answers

Thomas Breen photo

A 69-unit "mass timber" affordable housing complex on the rise at Dixwell-Munson-Orchard.

As the three Democratic candidates for Newhallville-Hamden state representative discussed key issues like teacher pay and income inequality, one issue rang especially important at Thursday’s political debate: affordable housing. 

The debate, which was held by representatives from the Room For All Coalition at Albertus Magnus College, featured candidates Steve Winter, Abdul Osmanu, and Tarolyn Moore. 

All three are seeking to succeed State Rep. Robyn Porter in representing the 94th General Assembly District in an Aug. 13 Democratic primary for which early voting has already begun.

All three candidates seemed to be in agreement that housing should be more affordable and that tenants should be more protected, but the three had slightly different, yet entirely connected, priorities in trying to achieve this goal.

For former Alder and Democratic Party-endorsed Winter, incentivizing the building of affordable housing is essential. Winter drew upon his own experience as an alder helping properties on West Division, Dixwell Avenue, Sherman Avenue, West Hazel Street, and more open up fixed homes for affordable first-time homeownership and affordable rent opportunities. He also pointed to his efforts supporting Beulah redevelopment of the Joe Grate lot at Munson, Orchard, and Dixwell, which combines Winter’s interests at the intersection of affordable housing and environmentally-sustainable projects.

I mean it. I’m serious. I’ve got the conviction,” Winter said, about his legislative commitment and his support for more affordable housing. I’ve done it and I want to keep doing it on a larger scale.”

Winter emphasized the necessity of other communities and cities statewide to encourage the construction of affordable housing units and cited the 9% Low Income Tax Credit, which would incentivize those projects. 

In response to a question asking if he would support a state-owned plot of land for an encampment, Winter noted that while he agreed with the spirit” of the demand, he did not agree with the approach,” lauding the city’s efforts in turning a hotel into a homeless shelter instead.

For Hamden legislator and Porter-endorsed Osmanu, a tenant’s opportunity to purchase is key to his vision of affordable housing. Osmanu shared that Newhallville’s Area Median Income is $55,000 a year, making housing unaffordable for the prices in the neighborhood. He echoed Winter’s sentiments about low-interest loans for housing units.

The youngest candidate in the race at 22, he drew upon his experience as a legislator in Hamden empowering tenants and reinvigorating the Fair Rent Commission in 2023. More recently, Osmanu was part of an effort to amend Hamden’s Code of Ordinances to include landlord registration, increasing accountability for landlords. 

With this experience, he emphasized his connection to stakeholders, mentioning that he is close with coalition partners who fought for these issues, including just-cause eviction legislation, rent caps, and a tenant’s right to counsel.

I’ve loved working on these issues, not only as an elected official, but as a concerned person for the people I care about the most,” Osmanu said.

Like Winter, Osamnu thought a state-owned land for an encampment was not the best idea,” reemphasizing putting financial power into the tenants’ hands to provide more pathways to affordable housing.

And for pastor and New Haven Public Schools employee Tarolyn Moore, personal experience as a Newhalville resident motivated her approach to addressing homelessness. Moore brought up her own financial struggles in pointing out the unaffordability of housing, noting that if her mother didn’t have a house, Moore would be on the Green living in a cardboard box.” She emphasized the need for a working wage, echoing Osmanu’s sentiments of bringing financial power to tenants.

She noted that in bureaucracy, money often does not go where it’s needed most. We need to start reevaluating how the money is being redistributed,” she said. 

In regards to the encampment sweeps, she described them as so anti-human,” noting that anyone in the room could be subject to homelessness if they missed a paycheck. At one point, Moore shared an anecdote in which she suggested a plot of land be potentially used for tiny homes for people who age out of the foster care system.

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