Connecticut has underbuilt for decades and now faces a daunting housing shortage, driving rising poverty and homelessness, and undercutting the state’s economy. Two of Connecticut’s foremost housing policy experts discuss what a better housing future might look like for the state, and how the Governor can take meaningful steps in that direction.

Pete Harrison, Regional Plan Association

Pete Harrison is the Connecticut Director with the tri-state planning and advocacy group Regional Plan Association. Pete previously served as Senior Policy Fellow for DesegregateCT, now Pro-Homes CT, where he helped pass the first statewide zoning reform bill in over 30 years. He previously conducted research on housing and climate at the Buell Center of Architecture at Columbia University, served as national housing advisor at Data for Progress, and advised on the campaigns of four Democratic presidential candidates. He holds degrees from Holy Cross University and Columbia University.

https://rpa.org/

https://www.instagram.com/regional_plan

https://web-cdn.bsky.app/profile/rpa.org

https://www.linkedin.com/company/regional-plan-association

Chelsea Ross, Partnership for Strong Communities

Chelsea Ross is the Executive Director of the statewide nonprofit housing advocacy group Partnership for Strong Communities, where she prioritizes collective approaches to change that amplify diverse and underrepresented voices. Chelsea brings 15+ years of experience in the housing and homelessness sector, including time with the Corporation for Supportive Housing in New England, the CT Coalition to End Homelessness, and as a community case manager. Chelsea serves on several boards, including the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority, and holds an MPA and BSW from the University of Connecticut.

https://pschousing.org/

https://www.instagram.com/pschousing/

https://www.linkedin.com/company/partnership-for-strong-communities/

https://www.youtube.com/user/CTPartnershipHousing

Resource Links:

The State of Housing in Connecticut 2025 https://pschousing.org/state-of-housing-in-connecticut-2025/

Homes on Track: Building Thriving Communities Around Transit https://rpa.org/work/reports/homes-on-track

Connecticut Talks Housing is hosted by Evonne Klein, former CT Commissioner of Housing and former First Selectwoman of Darien, CT. This podcast is sponsored by the Partnership for Strong Communities, a non-profit promoting equitable change in Connecticut housing policy by coordinating advocacy, advancing research, and uniting diverse partners. It is produced by the Housing Collective, a non-profit based in Bridgeport, CT that solves homelessness and supports affordable housing development.