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Lawmakers and advocates challenge Connecticut Opportunity Map used by CHFA and DOH
Summary
Senator Kathy Austin told the Housing Committee the Connecticut Opportunity Map used by CHFA and other agencies labels about a third of the state as "low opportunity," a classification she disputes and says harms eastern Connecticut's access to state housing grants.
Senator Kathy Austin, who represents parts of eastern Connecticut, told the Housing Committee she has repeatedly raised concerns about the Connecticut Opportunity Map that CHFA and other state agencies rely on to guide housing investments.
"This map identifies, a fully a third of the state as a low opportunity area, which I would dispute on a regular basis," Senator Austin said, adding she has submitted written testimony and tried to engage CHFA for three years about updating the map.
Senator Austin and other speakers said the map was developed or promoted by an outside advocacy group and relies on outdated data and limited metrics. The map, they said, does not account for infrastructure constraints such as sewer and water availability that are critical for housing development in many eastern Connecticut towns.
The issue drew follow-up questions from committee members. Senator Austin said the map "was developed by an advocacy group" and CHFA and DOH do not own or control the map's methodology, undermining their ability to revise it. Representative Tony Scott asked whether legislative action would allow CHFA or DOH to own and update the map; Austin responded that she wants state agencies to develop their own mapping so state investments are not governed by a tool the state cannot revise.
At the same hearing, witnesses representing the Open Communities Alliance and other housing groups countered some of Austin's criticisms. Hugh Bailey, policy director at Open Communities Alliance, told the committee the mapping work was conducted in partnership with CHFA and DOH and that CT Data Collaborative — the state's data contractor — helped develop the original mapping and its update. Bailey said the opportunity map is "one of many factors" state agencies use in deciding investments, and agencies routinely consider infrastructure, sewer capacity and project feasibility when evaluating proposals.
Other witnesses echoed the need for a transparent, independent, and regularly updated process that uses a broader set of metrics. Maria Weingarten, who said she had posted links in her testimony, said the Open Communities Alliance data relied on sources as old as 2008 for some metrics and urged an independent, transparent reassessment to ensure the map encourages growth statewide.
Proponents and critics agreed on two practical points: the map influences multiple grant and scoring systems beyond CHFA's programs, and any mapping that guides the distribution of scarce state housing dollars needs clearer documentation and a mechanism for periodic revision.
The committee did not take a formal vote during the hearing. Several members asked staff and sponsors to consider drafting statutory language that would require more transparency and agency control over any tool used to allocate state housing funds.
