Useful Terms

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Affordable Housing.  According to the federal government, housing that can be obtained by rent or mortgage for 30% or less of the household’s gross income, including utilities.  Affordable Housing is not the same as Section 8 housing. 

 Character.  A vague term with a wide range of often localized meanings used frequently by opponents of an AH project, as in “It will change the character of the neighborhood or town.” Proponents of AH often consider character as defined by the community in designing their projects. Under a state law enacted in 2021, “character” may not be used to reject an AH project unless “expressly articulated in regulations with clear and explicit physical standards.” 

 Green Building.  A construction design that reduces the environmental impacts of construction and energy use. 

 Housing Trust Fund.  A public or quasi-public entity created by a state, city, or town to fund affordable housing. The funds usually come from income and property tax revenue and are dispensed as grants or loans to affordable housing nonprofits, developers, renters, and buyers.    

Inclusionary Zoning. A zoning regulation that requires or encourages a developer to include affordable housing in their housing development. 

Moderate Income.  Adjusted income that is between 80% and 120% of the area (county or Metropolitan Statistical Area).median income (AMI) adjusted for household size.  

Multigenerational Housing.  A public or private housing complex that allows residents of all ages. 

Race Conscious Policy.  Government or private sector policies and programs that consider race, typically by giving preference to certain races or ethnicities, in education, employment, contracting, housing, etc. 

Rent Subsidies (Vouchers).  Colloquial terms for the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s Section 8 program. These programs subsidize the rent of low-income tenants in privately owned apartments through certificates or vouchers with tenants usually paying 30% of income for rent including utilities and HUD paying the remainder. 

Senior Housing. A public or private housing complex that restricts residency to older individuals above a certain age such as 55 or 60 years.  

Snob Zoning.  A means of residential segregation since the 1970s by which many cities and towns have enacted zoning and construction regulations that effectively bar low-income individuals and families (often people of color) from renting or purchasing housing in the community by making housing too expensive. Specific regulations have usually prohibited multi-unit dwellings and have required large lots for small single-family homes.

Steering.  A form of housing discrimination in which usually a real estate agent or a mortgage lender seeks to influence a buyer’s choice of neighborhood or community based on the buyer‘s race, gender, religion, disability, occupation, or national origin, all of which are categories protected from discrimination by the Fair Housing Act.   

Tiny Houses. Also called small, micro, or cottage houses, dwellings under 400 square feet, excluding lofts, advocated as environmentally friendly and less expensive than larger homes. 

Extremely Low Income.  Adjusted income below 30% of the area (county or Metropolitan Statistical Area) median income (AMI), adjusted for household size.  

Very Low Income.   Adjusted income below 50% of the area (county or Metropolitan Statistical Area) median income (AMI), adjusted for household size.  

For a glossary of technical terms related to affordable housing in Connecticut, see: Connecticut Housing Finance Authority. www.chfa.org/assets/1/6/2022_and_2023_LIHTC_Glossary_of_Terms_-_Final.pdf?10320.