We are aware of how systems change is necessary to take on the root causes of some of the problems Eastern Connecticut residents are facing. We are deeply committed to supporting statewide advocacy so our representatives are aware of these issues. By regularly convening with nonprofits to help them lobby for meaningful change at a legislative level, we are advocating for progress together.

If there’s anything we’ve learned from our recent experiences, it’s that we can surmount any challenge when we work together and amplify our voices. Our recent work, with your support, has served as a foundation on which we can continue to improve the lives of Eastern Connecticut residents.

Delivering support during the COVID-19 pandemic

During the pandemic, many people in Eastern Connecticut experienced job losses, food insecurity, and other challenges. You helped us address these pressing needs by joining our Circle of Kindness and giving to the Neighbors for Neighbors Fund, providing over $1.5 million to those in need.

We worked closely with municipal leaders to focus American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) investments in three critical areas: early childhood care and education, mental health and wellness, and affordable and safe housing. The funding offered an opportunity to concentrate resources on addressing issues that are critical for lifting people out of poverty and creating stable households.

We continue to advocate for state funding to address these priority areas, so that all children can receive the quality care they need to thrive and all adults can provide safe and healthy environments for their families.

Addressing the need for more affordable housing

With one of the most severe housing shortages in the nation, affordable housing remains a crucial issue in Connecticut. Half of the state’s renters are classified as housing cost-burdened, spending 30 percent or more of their income on rent and utilities. A lack of affordable housing means more instability for working families, fewer opportunities for people to achieve the dream of owning a home, and a greater risk of homelessness.

Since 2023, CFECT has led a strategic partnership of regional partners to pursue housing solutions. The Center for Housing Equity and Opportunity in Eastern Connecticut is committed to uniting a diverse coalition of practitioners, policymakers, residents, and community organizations to collectively identify and implement community-driven and data-informed options that preserve, protect, and produce safe housing for all.

This coalition includes Connecticut College, Eastern Connecticut State University, the United Way of Southeastern Connecticut, the Housing Collective, Partnership for Strong Communities, and Regional Plan Association. We are grateful to these partners, and to all of the funders who made the Center a reality.

Improving the lives of Eastern Connecticut youth

CFECT has implemented new funds and initiatives in recent years to address some of the problems affecting the youth of Eastern Connecticut. The number of children living in poverty rose sharply after the expiration of federal pandemic relief programs, affecting more than one in ten children in Eastern Connecticut. This issue has also been defined by stark racial inequalities, with Black and Hispanic children being three to four times more likely to experience poverty.

We established two endowed funds at CFECT in 2023 to address these pressing issues. The Brighter Futures Fund advances equitable outcomes to improve the lives of children and youth in Eastern Connecticut, supporting grants for early childhood education, after-school enrichment, mentoring, and other opportunities that enrich the lives of our youngest residents.

The Fund for Racial Justice advances racial equity, supports racial justice organizing and advocacy, and allocates flexible resources to organizations and movements led by people of color in Eastern Connecticut. The fund supports numerous efforts to break down systemic racial inequities, including educational programs, community-led advocacy, and support for marginalized populations.

In one of our most monumental undertakings, we embarked on the End Child Poverty Now campaign in 2024, developing a statewide outreach and advocacy strategy with a goal of eradicating child poverty in Connecticut. We have brought together more than 110 partners working toward this common goal, and our lobbying efforts have helped achieve two important, tangible results: Paid Family Medical Leave and Universal Preschool Endowment (for children 0-5) are now a reality.

There is still so much to do. And we are ready for it.

Together, we are resilient. And that is how we create a healthy, thriving, sustainable Eastern Connecticut with greater equity for all.

Thank you for being part of our efforts, and for being an invaluable member of our community.

Warm regards,

Maryam Elahi
President & CEO

January 2026