Greater Hartford Legal Aid, Inc.

03/27/2024

GHLA joins Senator Richard Blumenthal in support of proposed federal legislation preventing landlords from colluding to set rents based on algorithms. Rising rents across Connecticut can lead to evictions which are disruptive to work, children's education, elder housing, and overall family stability.

Rents prices continue to skyrocket in Connecticut and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal said software is part of the problem. He said landlords are able to control markets by using software that allows them to see how far they can raise their rents without losing tenants. “These kinds of price-fixing c...

02/23/2024

Hartford Mayor Arunan Arulampalam announced initiatives to improve housing conditions for City residents at a press conference held at GHLA on February 21st, highlighting the City’s partnership with GHLA on these issues. Watch this news clip to hear from GHLA Housing Unit Staff Attorney Kelsey Bannon.

City leaders want to make it easier for tenants to submit complaints about problems in their buildings.

03/20/2023

GHLA and its allies are fighting for fair income and asset rules for HUSKY Medicaid for the elderly and disabled. Read more about the restrictive income and asset limits that keep Connecticut’s elders and people with disabilities living on the financial edge in order to maintain important health coverage here

03/02/2023

Extra SNAP benefits are ending soon. If you or someone you know is affected, watch these videos from our sister organization Connecticut Legal Services to see how you can make the most of your SNAP.

English
https://fb.watch/i_3-24pLr0/
Spanish
https://fb.watch/i_40wsBf3p/

(If you have subscription, read for context NYT article “Low Income Families Brace for the End of Food Stamps”, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/02/28/us/politics/food-stamps-benefits-decrease.html?searchResultPosition=1)

02/27/2023

GHLA Housing Staff Attorney Britt Ignace and her client Iesha Davis-Gunn spoke in support of eviction records reform as part of the WFSB Channel 3 week-long series on renters’ rights. Watch the story here, https://www.wfsb.com/2023/02/24/renters-rights-how-long-should-an-eviction-stay-your-records-proposed-bill-would-clear-some-records-after-30-days/.

Call your legislators and tell them to support HB 6781, and in particular Section 11, which protects tenants from being denied housing based on eviction filings that did not result in eviction or that are more than 5 years old.

It is not too late to submit testimony in support of HB 6781, which you can do HERE, https://www.cga.ct.gov/aspx/CGATestimonySub/CGAtestimonysubmission.aspx?comm_code=HSG, using these formshttps://ghla.org/sites/default/files/pictures/testimony%20forms.pdf

02/24/2023

This week, WFSB investigative reporter Sam Smink is presenting a series on tenants’ rights every day at 6:00, followed by a Facebook Live event answering tenants’ questions. We will post each installment as it is available.

Evictions in Connecticut are higher than pre-pandemic levels and many tenants don’t know where to turn.

02/24/2023

EVICTION RECORDS REFORM – ACTION ALERT

Tuesday February 28th is the day to voice your SUPPORT for eviction records reform in Connecticut, at the public hearing of the Housing Committee.

• SUPPORT HB 6781 Section 11 https://www.cga.ct.gov/asp/cgabillstatus/cgabillstatus.asp?selBillType=Bill&bill_num=HB06781&which_year=2023 which protects tenants from being denied rental housing based on evictions more than 5 years old. Submit written testimony here -https://www.cga.ct.gov/2023/hsgdata/pha/pdf/2023PHA00228-R001100HSG-PHA.PDF and/or sign up Monday by 3:00 to testify.

• USE THIS TEMPLATE to submit testimony: (from ghla.org)https://ghla.org/sites/default/files/pictures/testimony%20forms.pdf

02/23/2023

This week, WFSB investigative reporter Sam Smink is presenting a series on tenants’ rights every day at 6:00, followed by a Facebook Live event answering tenants’ questions. We will post each installment as it is available.

In 2022, the CT legislature said every city and town with a population greater than 25,000 must create a Fair Rent Commission ordinance by mid 2023.

02/16/2023

Do you know or work with individuals who get SNAP? This video created by our sister organization Connecticut Legal Services in English and in Spanish highlights common deductions that can make a real difference in the amount of SNAP benefits a family receives. Spread the word!

English version:
https://fb.watch/iHp4VDOT49/

Spanish only version on Facebook
https://fb.watch/iHwUUFOVSh/

02/08/2023

GHLA’s sister organization Connecticut Legal Services has produced these videos in English and Spanish to alert Connecticut residents that the federal government is ending SNAP (Food Stamps) emergency allotments in March 2023. SNAP payments will be reduced by at least $95. If you or someone you know receives SNAP, now is the time to ensure that the household’s information is updated with DSS, to receive all of the benefits to which you are entitled.

https://fb.watch/iycGxCZ7bR/

01/25/2023

CT Public’s “Where We Live” discusses Connecticut’s eviction crisis, the successful first year of Connecticut’s “Right to Counsel” eviction defense program, and housing proposals in the current legislative session,

One of the biggest focuses for the 2023 legislative session is housing. Today, on Where We Live, we talk about the housing market in our state and what legislative action we might see in the future.

09/13/2022

Come join us on Sunday!

Working to ensure that all people have equal access to housing opportunities, free from discrimination.