Focus

The Centers for Housing Opportunity are dedicated to building better communities. We provide administrative support and technical assistance to municipalities, non-profit developers, service providers, local resident groups, tenant unions and other partners. We align regional funding, data, and resources to help communities plan for their future, and we host public programming to help residents better understand housing challenges and solutions. 

Housing is an ecosystem made up of residents, elected officials, lenders, developers, planners, non-profits, community groups, and others. In order to produce, protect, and preserve housing, we work to identify regional gaps and opportunities that no single community or organization can address alone.

Every community in Connecticut manages its own land use and zoning process, which determines whether and where housing is built. The Centers for Housing Opportunity are committed to increasing participation in the local land use process, and supporting local land use commissioners with best practices. 

Launched in 2019, the Fairfield County Center for Housing Opportunity (FCCHO) focuses on identifying gaps in the local housing ecosystem, providing educational public programming, and growing participation in the local land use process. Since its founding, FCCHO has been a driving force behind changing the narrative around affordable housing in the region, and moving communities from “no” to “how.”

Launched in 2022, the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity (LCCHO) focuses on local capacity building, providing dedicated staff and administrative support for small, local housing organizations and initiatives. Working in partnership with local nonprofits, LCCHO has helped increase the pipeline of affordable homes in development in Litchfield County by 100% since the initiative began. 

Launched in 2023, the Center for Housing Opportunity Eastern Connecticut (CHO-EC) focuses on supporting tenant organizing, providing educational public programming, and growing participation in the local land use process. CHO-EC has supported the establishment of five tenant unions and one new Fair Rent Commission, while hosting events and conversation series with partners across the region.