Housing

Overview

Safe and secure housing is one of our most basic needs in order to live healthy and prosperous lives. CRCOG works with its municipal members, the State, and other partners to:

Research the issues and trends affecting the region’s housing supply, demand, and overall affordability
Identify emerging housing opportunities and innovative approaches
Provide guidance and policy recommendations to our region’s cities and towns and other decision-makers
Understand how past practices have perpetrated inequities and how we can work together to better address the housing needs of all of our region’s residents

UPDATES: CT COG (comprised of the 9 Councils of Government in the state) has been working together to analyze Special Session Public Act No. 25-1 – the Housing Legislation that passed in a special session in November 2025. The following documents provide guidance on this legislation:

Special Session Public Act No. 25-1 CT COG Summary, February 2026
Housing Growth Plans Due Dates and Decision Points Flowchart

CRCOG HOUSING INITIATIVES

Regional Housing Strategy

CRCOG launched its Regional Housing Strategy in early 2025. Learn more about the project and sign up for project updates using the link below.

Housing Types in the Region

Explore different type homes found throughout the region and imagine how they might look in your town.

Accessory Dwelling Unit Legislation Survey

CRCOG surveyed the region’s planning directors to better understand how each municipality is approaching Public Act 21-29, which requires cities and towns to allow accessory dwelling units (ADUs), among other requirements.

Regional Housing Assessments

CRCOG has partnered with various entities to better understand the region’s housing stock, the needs of residents, and gaps and opportunities. See the following studies:

Planning for Affordability Guidebook, 2021
Regional Housing Assessment Presentation, 2021
CRCOG Affordable Housing Assessment, 2021, updated 2022
Knowledge Corridor Fair Housing and Equity Assessment, 2014

affordable housing implementation pathway learning cohort

With funding from the Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Sustainable CT worked with a small group of CRCOG municipalities to develop equitable pathways to implement local Affordable Housing Plans. CRCOG provided support by developing guidance on affordable housing strategies and participating in peer sharing meetings with the communities.

The following resources were developed as part of this project:

CRCOG contributed to a Toolkit that included information on Tiny Houses / Accessory Dwelling Units, Housing Trust Funds, and Tax Abatements.
Goman + York presented case studies for tax abatements

RESOURCES

CRCOG Resources:

Other Housing Resources:

Connecticut Housing Data Hub
Housing Supply Accelerator Playbook, American Planning Association. Not sure where to start with planning for housing at the local level? This guidebook will walk you through the steps.
Housing & School Enrollment Webinar. The Naugatuck Valley Council of Governments recently organized an informative webinar that addresses myths and reality around school enrollment and new housing construction. Watch the webinar here.
CT Department of Housing programs and initiatives
Connecticut Housing Needs Assessment, Connecticut Housing and Finance Authority
Housing Data Profiles, Partnership for Strong Communities
DataHaven
CT 8-30g, Affordable Housing Appeals information
2023 Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing Choice, CT Department of Housing