Episodes

  • 4: CHP CEO Renee Dobis Talks CT's Housing Crisis on WICC

    4: CHP CEO Renee Dobis Talks CT's Housing Crisis on WICC
    11 Sep 2026
    Connecticut Housing Partners CEO Renee Dobis joined Melissa in the Morning on WICC for her monthly housing check-in, breaking down the United Way's new ALICE report: 570,000 Connecticut households — one in three statewide — can't afford the basics, despite being part of the workforce, from health aides to retail workers to seniors on fixed incomes. Renee explains why a Connecticut family of four needs roughly $116,000 to get by while the average household earns $76,000, and why the state's affordability gap ranks among the worst in the country. She also previews Making Home Happen on September 29, the CHP fundraiser Melissa will MC. Learn more at cthousingpartners.org.
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    18 min
  • 3: From Blighted to Built: Inside Connecticut Housing Partners Push for Affordable Housing

    3: From Blighted to Built: Inside Connecticut Housing Partners Push for Affordable Housing
    2 Sep 2026
    On this month's housing check-in, Renee Dobis of Connecticut Housing Partners joined Melissa to talk River Bend, a brand-new building CHP is buying and converting from 30% to 100% affordable, with units set aside for seniors experiencing homelessness and veterans. She also shared the story of a senior who applied to the waitlist after being forced out of her home and left living in her car on $1,800/month in Social Security. Plus: 12 blighted properties across CT are getting $15M in state funding for cleanup, and the Department of Housing just got new authority to build directly on state land, 6,400 units are already in the pipeline. Tune in for the full conversation on affordable housing, brownfield redevelopment, and what's next for towns like Fairfield and New Canaan.
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    17 min
  • The Property Tax Break Nobody Knows About

    The Property Tax Break Nobody Knows About
    14 May 2026
    Connecticut homeowners are getting crushed by the 2025 property tax revaluations and there was a law on the books that could have helped. Melissa and housing expert Renée Dobos of Connecticut Housing Partners break down the Connecticut Homestead Exemption Act, a little-known statute that would allow towns to reduce owner-occupied home assessments by up to $50,000. So why does almost no one know about it? And why did Stratford — one of the only towns that tried to adopt it — have to drop the idea before it even got off the ground? Renee also shares what she and the Connecticut Housing Partners team took to Capitol Hill during their recent NeighborWorks trip, including a push for increased federal funding as Connecticut faces a shortage of over 300,000 housing units. Plus, Melissa makes the case for why transportation infrastructure — not just inventory — needs to be part of the affordable housing conversation in Connecticut.
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    19 min
  • Housing Crisis Is Getting Worse - March 2026

    Housing Crisis Is Getting Worse - March 2026
    16 Mar 2026
    Connecticut's housing shortage has hit a breaking point — and the numbers don't lie. Housing expert Renee Dobos of Connecticut Housing Partners joins Melissa in the Morning on WICC 600 to break down the state's 360,000-unit housing deficit, a 43% spike in homelessness since 2021, and the controversial Senate Bill 151 that could reshape zoning laws statewide. If you rent, own, or care about where Connecticut is headed, this conversation is for you.
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    9 min
  • Is Connecticut a Rental Desert? January 2026

    Is Connecticut a Rental Desert? January 2026
    9 Jan 2026
    CEO Renee Dobos joined Melissa in the Morning on WICC to discuss Connecticut’s housing crisis, the rise of rental deserts, and why increasing rental housing supply is critical for communities across the state. Also spotlighting CHP’s ongoing development, rehabilitation, and supportive housing work across Connecticut — reinforcing our commitment to building stable homes and stronger communities.
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    15 min
  • 2: Did This Housing Law Actually Help? December 2025

    2: Did This Housing Law Actually Help? December 2025
    9 Jan 2026
    In our monthly housing check-in on Melissa in the Morning on WICC, Renee Dobos, CEO of Connecticut Housing Partners, shares her perspective on Connecticut’s newly signed housing law. Renee walks through what the legislation includes, what it leaves out, and why long-standing challenges around housing supply, municipal control, and affordability are still front and center.
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    15 min
  • 1: What’s in the Housing Bill? November 2025

    1: What’s in the Housing Bill? November 2025
    9 Jan 2026
    With Connecticut’s special legislative session underway, housing legislation moved to the center of the conversation but not without questions. During her monthly check-in on Melissa in the Morning on WICC, Renee Dobos, CEO of Connecticut Housing Partners, addressed concerns around unclear housing proposals, limited transparency, and what the legislation could actually mean for housing supply across Connecticut. As the housing shortage continues, we are emphasizing the need for clear policy, real enforcement, and legislation that leads to more rental and workforce housing, not just discussion.
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    10 min
  • Making homes Happen in Bridgeport! September 2025

    Making homes Happen in Bridgeport! September 2025
    9 Jan 2026
    It’s official! We’ve closed on the former Holiday Inn in downtown Bridgeport. The long-vacant property will be redeveloped into 97 new apartments, expanding housing opportunities for Bridgeport residents and supporting continued downtown revitalization. During her monthly conversation on Melissa in the Morning on WICC, CEO, Renee Dobos, shared this milestone and discussed CHP’s role in advancing the project. The redevelopment reflects our ongoing commitment to transforming underutilized buildings into homes that strengthen communities and support long-term stability.
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    15 min