Connecticut General Assembly Housing Committee Hearing Testimony in Support of Senate Bill 257: An Act Concerning Evictions for Cause
Senator Marx, Representative Felipe, and Members of the Housing Committee:
My name is Beth Sabilia, and I serve as Director of the Center for Housing Opportunity Eastern Connecticut (CHO-EC), a program of The Housing Collective and a regional initiative that works with municipalities, residents, housing providers, and community partners to strengthen housing stability and expand housing opportunity across eastern Connecticut.
I am writing in support of Senate Bill 257 because it represents a balanced, common sense approach to strengthening housing stability for Connecticut communities.
At its core, this bill reflects a simple idea: when people can remain safely and predictably housed, communities are stronger. Stable housing allows residents to build relationships, support local businesses, participate in civic life, and contribute to the places they call home. Our neighborhoods thrive when longtime residents, working families, seniors, and young people alike can stay connected to their communities rather than facing sudden disruption.
Just cause eviction protections are often misunderstood. They are not about limiting responsible property ownership or preventing landlords from addressing legitimate problems. Instead, they establish clear and reasonable expectations for everyone involved. Property owners retain the ability to act when lease terms are violated, or rent goes unpaid, while tenants gain basic assurance that they will not lose their housing without a valid reason. That predictability creates stability not only for tenants, but for neighborhoods and the housing market as a whole.
Strong communities are built when neighbors can stay neighbors.
From our work across eastern Connecticut, we see every day how disruptive unnecessary displacement can be. When residents are forced to move unexpectedly, the impacts extend beyond a single household. Children lose school connections, workplaces lose employees, and communities lose neighbors who have helped shape the character of their towns. Local governments and service providers often bear the costs that follow housing instability.
Keeping people housed whenever possible is not a radical idea; it is a practical one. Preventing avoidable displacement helps communities maintain continuity and reduces strain on public systems. It allows residents to remain part of their neighborhoods' social fabric - the people who volunteer, look out for one another, and invest in their communities over time.
SB 257 advances a moderate and stabilizing policy framework that supports our neighbors by promoting fairness, clarity, and predictability. At a time when housing challenges are affecting communities across Connecticut, policies that reduce uncertainty and strengthen community stability are essential.
At CHO-EC, we work with communities that are actively trying to solve housing challenges in thoughtful, locally grounded ways. We know that the strongest housing policies are those that balance multiple interests while keeping community well-being at the center. This bill reflects that balance.
Ultimately, housing is about people. It is about our neighbors, our coworkers, and the families who help make our towns feel like home. Supporting SB 257 is one meaningful step toward ensuring that Connecticut remains a place where people can put down roots and remain part of the communities they value.
I respectfully urge the Committee to support this legislation.
Thank you for your consideration and for your commitment to strengthening housing stability across our state.
