HOPE Partnership

08/31/2026

Last week HOPE was represented at the RiverCOG planning meeting for affordable housing in our region. It was a packed room of community representatives analyzing demographics and making plans to improve affordable housing in our region. See the below video explaining the extensive process that our region is committed to.

The Lower Connecticut River Valley Council of Governments (RiverCOG...

08/26/2026

Today we feature Jessica Penfield, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited in Old Saybrook. Jessica generously donated a birdhouse to auction for our community events. It's so interesting how everyone has their own version of what home means to them.

08/24/2026

Starting the week off with a little feel good about the importance of home. Meet Jackie Barry, our neighbor at the Old Lyme Midsummer Festival. She and her mother recently opened Pencil & Wool, a shop for creatives in Essex.

08/20/2026

It is not surprising to see these statistics.

Poll: Housing costs among affordability concerns for CT voters

08/19/2026

What is Home?
Today we feature Toral Maher, the Foundation Manager and Executive Director at Liberty Bank. We had fun meeting in Old Saybrook with the campers at Kate's Camp for Kids singing in the background.

08/17/2026

What fun we had at our annual fundraiser at the Ivoryton Playhouse. Many thanks to ours sponsors and volunteers. Continue following us to hear more from them.

08/13/2026

What does “affordable” actually mean when rents keep rising?

The National Low Income Housing Coalition’s Out of Reach 2026 report illustrates the growing gap between what renters can afford and the cost of housing across the country.

For a household relying on Supplemental Security Income, an affordable rent is just $298/month. For a full-time worker earning the federal minimum wage, it’s $377/month. Meanwhile, the 2026 national average Fair Market Rent is $1,518 for a one-bedroom and $1,806 for a two-bedroom.

These numbers highlight a challenge communities across the country are facing: housing costs are far outpacing what many households can afford.

📊 Source: , Out of Reach 2026
https://nlihc.org/oor

08/13/2026

As we get ready for our annual fundraiser to a sold-out crowd tonight at the Ivoryton Playhouse below is an article that reiterates the need for affordable housing.

National active housing market inventory growth is at a crawl.

08/05/2026

A bit of good news for Connecticut's economy.

Con­necti­cut ranked 23rd in CNBC’s 2026 Top States for Busi­ness study, which was released this week, as it moved up five pos­i­tions from last year. The state’s place­ment this year in Top States, which is one of the lead­ing track­ers of eco­nomic...

07/31/2026

News from our friends at Partnership for Strong Communities

One year can make a big difference.

In just one year, Connecticut's Housing Wage increased by more than $3.50 per hour, while the Fair Market Rent for a modest two-bedroom apartment rose by nearly $200 per month, according to National Low Income Housing Coalition's 2026 Out of Reach report.

That means:
📈 Higher rents
📈 Higher wages needed to afford them
📈 A wider affordability gap

Connecticut now has the 9th highest housing wage in the nation.

Housing costs continue to outpace wages, making it harder for working families to afford a safe, stable home.

Read the 2026 OOR: https://nlihc.org/oor