Events

The Center for Housing Opportunity provides opportunities for practitioners, officials and citizens to discuss and learn about housing affordability across Connecticut, including the Fairfield County Talks Housing series, an annual Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit, and a Community Housing Conversations series in Eastern Connecticut.

Upcoming events are listed on the calendar.

Whether you are an advocate or a planner seeking to improve your skills, an official seeking to speak with your community, or a concerned citizen trying to increase your awareness about housing affordability, join us for an event soon. If you would like to collaborate with CHO on an event, please contact us.

Fairfield County Talks Housing

Fairfield County Talks Housing is a program spearheaded by local residents and supported by the Fairfield County Center for Housing Opportunity. The purpose is to sponsor fact-based community conversations about zoning laws and housing policies, led by residents. Ultimately, the program hopes to create community awareness and understanding about how housing policies and zoning laws can both provide and deny access to opportunity in our communities.

Featured
Housing as an Economic Driver
Apr 24
Housing as an Economic Driver

Housing and economic develop experts will discuss how housing can be an economic driver for Fairfield County and the state as a whole during this brown bag lunch, part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Exploring the ALICE Report for Fairfield County
Mar 13
Exploring the ALICE Report for Fairfield County

Isabel Almeida of United Way discusses the growing number of ALICE (“Asset Constrained, Income Limited, Employed”) households in Fairfield County, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

2024 Legislative Preview on Housing
Jan 30
2024 Legislative Preview on Housing

Elected officials discuss what's on the horizon for affordable housing in Connecticut in 2024, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Housing Matters: Building Sustainable Communities
Nov 14
Darien Nature Center
Housing Matters: Building Sustainable Communities
Darien Nature Center

Housing and community development practitioners discuss how we can make our communities more sustainable, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Darien Nature Center
Housing Matters: Connecting Housing & Education
Oct 17
Westport Library
Housing Matters: Connecting Housing & Education
Westport Library

Leaders from education and youth development talk with elected officials about the relationship of housing and education, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Westport Library
Housing Matters: Thriving in Fairfield County
Sep 12
Harry Bennett Library
Housing Matters: Thriving in Fairfield County
Harry Bennett Library

Community development experts share their insights about how to create a more equitable Fairfield County, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Harry Bennett Library

Events Archive

The Center for Housing Opportunity consistently hosts opportunities for residents and officials to discuss housing affordability, and for advocates and practitioners to enhance their skills and knowledge. Dozens of webinars and recordings of past are available to watch in our events archive.

Featured
Housing as an Economic Driver
Apr 24
Housing as an Economic Driver

Housing and economic develop experts will discuss how housing can be an economic driver for Fairfield County and the state as a whole during this brown bag lunch, part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Using Litchfield County's New Housing Assessment Tool
Apr 23
Using Litchfield County's New Housing Assessment Tool

Discover and learn about the new online Litchfield County Housing Needs Assessment tool, and learn how you can use it to support housing efforts in your community.

Regulating Short Term Rentals
Mar 26
Regulating Short Term Rentals

Learn how short-term rentals like those on AirBnB and VRBO are affecting housing availability and affordability in our region, and how communities can address challenges around these units.

Exploring the ALICE Report for Fairfield County
Mar 13
Exploring the ALICE Report for Fairfield County

Isabel Almeida of United Way discusses the growing number of ALICE (“Asset Constrained, Income Limited, Employed”) households in Fairfield County, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Eastern CT Housing Justice Series: Exploring Housing Justice & Racial Equity
Mar 4
Eastern CT Housing Justice Series: Exploring Housing Justice & Racial Equity

Connecticut College and CHEO in partnership with the Holleran Center continue their event series exploring “Housing Justice and…” with guest Pete Harrison, Director of Desegregate CT.

Segregation and Housing in CT
Feb 28
Segregation and Housing in CT

A panel of housing experts and policymakers to discuss the findings of a new report from the State of Connecticut on segregation and housing, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

2024 Legislative Preview on Housing
Jan 30
2024 Legislative Preview on Housing

Elected officials discuss what's on the horizon for affordable housing in Connecticut in 2024, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Housing Matters: Building Sustainable Communities
Nov 14
Darien Nature Center
Housing Matters: Building Sustainable Communities
Darien Nature Center

Housing and community development practitioners discuss how we can make our communities more sustainable, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Darien Nature Center
How Can Conservation Organizations and Housing Organizations in Litchfield County Work Together?
Oct 30
How Can Conservation Organizations and Housing Organizations in Litchfield County Work Together?

See examples of how organizations in both conservation and housing are working together in the region, as part of the 2023 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Community Housing Conversations: Think Tank Meeting
Oct 25
Shiloh Family Life Center
Community Housing Conversations: Think Tank Meeting
Shiloh Family Life Center

“Affordable housing” can mean many things to many people. Eastern CT Community leaders discuss what it is and what it’s not, as part of the Community Housing Conversations series.

Shiloh Family Life Center
Recruiting and Onboarding New Board Members for Housing Non-Profits
Oct 25
Recruiting and Onboarding New Board Members for Housing Non-Profits

Hear about our new tools to assist local housing organizations with recruiting new board members, as part of the Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Changing the Conversation on Affordable Housing
Oct 24
Changing the Conversation on Affordable Housing

Learn about our new playbook designed to help you change the conversation on affordable housing, as part of the Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Eastern CT Affordable Housing Plan Scorecards Release
Oct 18
Connecticut College
Eastern CT Affordable Housing Plan Scorecards Release
Connecticut College

Local officials and housing experts discuss the affordable housing plans drafted by communities in New London County, why they matter, and how to turn them into action.

Connecticut College
Housing Matters: Connecting Housing & Education
Oct 17
Westport Library
Housing Matters: Connecting Housing & Education
Westport Library

Leaders from education and youth development talk with elected officials about the relationship of housing and education, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Westport Library
Housing Matters: Thriving in Fairfield County
Sep 12
Harry Bennett Library
Housing Matters: Thriving in Fairfield County
Harry Bennett Library

Community development experts share their insights about how to create a more equitable Fairfield County, as part of the Fairfield County Talks Housing series.

Harry Bennett Library
Community Housing Conversation
Sep 5
Shiloh Family Life Center
Community Housing Conversation
Shiloh Family Life Center

The Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity, Eastern Connecticut, in partnership with CommUnity Street Ministry, hosts a series of community conversations about housing.

Shiloh Family Life Center
Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity, Eastern CT: Convening
Jun 12
Eastern Connecticut State University Student Center/Betty Tipton Room
Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity, Eastern CT: Convening
Eastern Connecticut State University Student Center/Betty Tipton Room

CHEO hosts a second convening with housing practicioners and residents to address critical issues related to affordable housing in Eastern Connecticut.

Eastern Connecticut State University Student Center/Betty Tipton Room
Maintaining Affordability in Our Cities While Redeveloping
May 3
Norwalk Community College - East Campus
Maintaining Affordability in Our Cities While Redeveloping
Norwalk Community College - East Campus

Officials, residents, and developers discuss how Norwalk, CT can preserve affordability while redeveloping, as part of the Norwalk Talks Housing series.

Norwalk Community College - East Campus
Litchfield County Housing Non-Profit Fundraising Toolkit
May 3
Litchfield County Housing Non-Profit Fundraising Toolkit

To help housing non-profits fundraise more effectively, the Litchfield County Center for Housing Opportunity provides an overview of our new Fundraising Toolkit for Housing Non-Profits.

Conversation with Connecticut Business Leaders & Legislators
Apr 24
Conversation with Connecticut Business Leaders & Legislators

“Finding Solutions to CT’s Housing Crisis” is a three-part series on the housing crisis in Connecticut. The final event features Fairfield County business leaders and legislators.

Just the Facts on Fair Share
Apr 17
Just the Facts on Fair Share

“Finding Solutions to CT’s Housing Crisis” is a three-part series focusing on the housing crisis in Connecticut. The second event provides “just the facts” about Fair Share / HB 6633.

Just the Facts on Work Live Ride
Apr 10
Just the Facts on Work Live Ride

“Finding Solutions to CT’s Housing Crisis” is a three-part series focusing on the housing crisis in Connecticut. The first event provides “just the facts” about Work Live Ride / HB 6890.

Affordable and Fair Housing Training for Municipal Land Use Officials
Mar 30
NHCOG
Affordable and Fair Housing Training for Municipal Land Use Officials
NHCOG

The Northwest Hills Council of Governments (NHCOG) provides a new required training on affordable and fair housing to municipal land use officials.

NHCOG
Communications Planning for Housing Non-Profits
Mar 27
Communications Planning for Housing Non-Profits

This webinar covers how to engage residents in an ongoing way to support the affordable housing work happening in your community.

Housing Equity and Affordability in Fairfield County: Perspectives on State Policies and Priorities
Mar 15
Bridgeport YMCA
Housing Equity and Affordability in Fairfield County: Perspectives on State Policies and Priorities
Bridgeport YMCA

Leaders from the Connecticut Department of Housing and beyond participate in a panel discuss on state priorities for housing affordability in Fairfield County.

Bridgeport YMCA
The Practice of Democracy: a View From Connecticut
Jan 17
Housatonic Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College
The Practice of Democracy: a View From Connecticut
Housatonic Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College

The Practice of Democracy is an educational experience taking place in three Connecticut cities to examine how justice, equality and power appear in our built environment.

Housatonic Museum of Art at Housatonic Community College
Resources for Homeownership and Housing Rehab
Oct 24
Resources for Homeownership and Housing Rehab

The session details programs and resources available to keep residents in their homes and provide affordable homeownership opportunities, as part of the 2022 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Finding Land for Housing
Oct 21
Finding Land for Housing

This session explains how to find land for affordable housing, including the pros and cons of using town-owned land and how to collaborate with conservation groups, as part of the 2022 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Community Engagement to Build Housing Support
Oct 19
Community Engagement to Build Housing Support

This session explores how different towns are using small grants to perform community engagement around affordable housing, as part of the 2022 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.

Zoning for Affordable Housing
Oct 19
Zoning for Affordable Housing

This session covers topics including CGS 8-30g, Connecticut’s Zoning Enabling Act (PA 21-29), and other municipal zoning issues, as part of the 2022 Litchfield County Housing Affordability Summit.