Connecticut Urban Investment Initiative: A Report on Sustainable Housing Development

Program Overview

A state-run pilot program in New Haven, Connecticut, is addressing housing challenges through a dual approach of retrofitting existing homes and constructing new affordable housing. The Urban Investment Initiative, managed by the state’s Department of Housing (DOH), aims to create healthier, more energy-efficient, and economically stable communities, directly contributing to several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Alignment with Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

The initiative places a strong emphasis on improving the health outcomes of residents.

• Hazard Remediation: The program actively identifies and remediates significant health hazards, such as mold, in existing homes. Fifteen homeowners have already benefited from this service.
• Health-Based Targeting: Program areas were selected based on critical health indicators, including high rates of asthma, cancer, and poor mental and physical health, ensuring resources are directed to communities most in need.
• Improved Living Conditions: Upgraded heating and cooling systems contribute to a healthier indoor environment, mitigating temperature-related health risks.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

A core component of the program is the enhancement of energy efficiency in low-income households.

1. The program retrofits homes to improve energy efficiency, reducing overall energy consumption.
2. Modern heating and cooling systems are installed, lowering utility costs for homeowners and promoting cleaner energy use.
3. To date, $900,000 has been allocated for retrofitting 30 homes, with the work being conducted by the nonprofit Efficiency for All.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

The initiative directly supports the creation of inclusive, safe, and sustainable urban housing.

• New Affordable Housing: Eight new affordable housing units are being constructed. These two-family homes are designed to be owner-occupied, increasing homeownership in the community.
• Upgrading Existing Housing Stock: By retrofitting existing homes, the program ensures the longevity and safety of current housing, a critical aspect of sustainable urban development.
• Integrated Development: The program demonstrates that addressing issues like mold is a prerequisite for further sustainability upgrades, such as insulation and modern heating systems, creating a holistic model for community improvement.

SDG 10: Reduced Inequalities

The program is structured to provide economic opportunities and support to vulnerable populations.

• Targeting Low-Income Households: The selection process prioritized neighborhoods with a high percentage of low-income and overcrowded households.
• Wealth Creation: The owner-occupied, two-family home model allows new homeowners to earn passive rental income, providing a pathway to greater economic stability.
• Equitable Access to Resources: The initiative ensures that long-term residents of the neighborhood have access to state-funded resources for home improvement.

Program Implementation and Partnerships (SDG 17)

Collaborative Framework

The success of the initiative is built on a multi-stakeholder partnership, exemplifying SDG 17, Partnerships for the Goals.

• State Government: The Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH) leads and funds the program.
• Academia: Yale University, through its Housing Clinic and School of Architecture, provides guidance on the construction of new homes.
• Nonprofit Sector: The local nonprofit Efficiency for All is responsible for executing the energy efficiency retrofits.

Funding and Scope

1. The project is supported by $3.5 million in state funding.
2. $2.6 million is allocated for the construction of eight new affordable housing units.
3. $900,000 is designated for the retrofitting of 30 existing homes in the neighborhood.

Future Outlook and Scalability

The New Haven pilot has demonstrated a successful model for integrated urban renewal. Based on this success, the DOH plans to expand the program to other cities across Connecticut, including Hartford and Waterbury. The long-term vision is to continue addressing the state’s existing housing stock while simultaneously developing new, sustainable housing, fostering resilient and healthy communities for the future.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• The article directly connects housing conditions to health outcomes. It mentions the remediation of mold, a “hidden hazard,” which can cause significant health problems. The state’s criteria for selecting program areas included health indicators like “asthma rate, cancer rates, mental health rate and poor physical [health] rates,” explicitly linking the housing initiative to improving community health.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• The program focuses on retrofitting homes for “energy efficiency” and updating “home heating and cooling systems.” This aims to make energy more affordable and sustainable for homeowners, which is a core component of SDG 7.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• The central theme of the article is improving housing. The program addresses this by building “eight new affordable housing units” and retrofitting existing homes to make them safer and more livable. This directly contributes to the goal of making cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient, and sustainable, with a specific focus on adequate and affordable housing.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• The project is a collaborative effort involving multiple stakeholders. The article describes it as a “partnership between Yale and DOH [Department of Housing],” with the retrofitting conducted by the “local nonprofit Efficiency for All.” This multi-sector collaboration between government, academia, and civil society is a key principle of SDG 17.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Target 3.9: By 2030, substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article’s focus on remediating mold, described as a “hidden hazard,” directly addresses indoor air contamination that leads to health issues like asthma, aligning with this target.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Target 7.1: By 2030, ensure universal access to affordable, reliable and modern energy services. The program’s action of updating “home heating and cooling systems” for low-income households improves access to modern and affordable energy.
• Target 7.3: By 2030, double the global rate of improvement in energy efficiency. The “retrofitting for energy efficiency” for 30 houses is a direct action aimed at improving energy efficiency at the household level.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Target 11.1: By 2030, ensure access for all to adequate, safe and affordable housing and basic services and upgrade slums. The program addresses this target by building “new affordable housing units” and improving the safety and quality of existing housing stock through mold remediation and retrofitting for low-income residents.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The project is a clear example of this target in action, described as a “partnership between Yale and DOH” (a public-academic partnership) and involving the “local nonprofit Efficiency for All” (a civil society organization).

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

• Health Indicators: The article states that the state used “asthma rate, cancer rates, mental health rate and poor physical [health] rates” to select program areas. A reduction in these rates in the targeted neighborhoods would be a direct indicator of progress.
• Number of Homes Remediated: The number of homes where hazards like mold have been removed (15 completed) serves as an output indicator for creating healthier living environments.

SDG 7: Affordable and Clean Energy

• Number of Homes with Energy Efficiency Retrofits: The article provides a clear metric: “15 homeowners whose house was…retrofitted for energy efficiency,” with a goal of “retrofitting for 30 houses.”
• Number of Homes with Updated Systems: The number of homes receiving updated “heating and cooling systems” is another measurable output.

SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities

• Number of New Affordable Housing Units: The program’s goal to build “eight new affordable housing units” is a specific, measurable indicator.
• Housing Condition Indicators: The state’s use of “percentage of households that were overcrowded” as a selection criterion implies that a reduction in this percentage could be a measure of success.
• Financial Investment: The article mentions “$3.5 million in state funding,” including “$2.6 million for the homes and the $900,000 for retrofitting,” which are financial indicators of the resources committed to improving housing.

SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

• Existence of a Multi-Stakeholder Partnership: The article identifies the specific partners: the state Department of Housing (DOH), Yale University, and the nonprofit Efficiency for All. The formation and operation of this “Housing Clinic” partnership is an indicator.

4. Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: ctpublic.org