A Connecticut group is holding a community policy forum to discuss housing.

The state is facing a severe affordable-housing shortage with soaring rents. Between 2005 and 2021, inflation growth of rent exceeded median household income in the state.

Sana Shah, power building and advocacy director with Connecticut Voices for Children, said increased evictions will be a long-term impact of this housing crisis.

“The threat of evictions,” said Shah, “is a significant deterrer of housing stability brought on by economic injustice, inadequate housing supply and legal structures that failed to protect tenants.”

There was an eviction moratorium throughout the pandemic, although it ended with the public health emergency earlier this year. The Eviction Lab finds Connecticut evictions have either surpassed or been in keeping with pre-pandemic rates.

The forum will be held today from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the University of Connecticut, Stamford.

While the state has taken action to bolster affordable housing, it could easily be lost.

The National Low-Income Housing Coalition finds more than 2,500 publicly supported rental homes could be lost, which could only increase over the next few years.

Shah described other challenges to building more affordable housing.

“Connecticut also needs progressive revenue,” said Shah, “so we can fund supplemental programs like the Rental Assistance Program to help low-income families who qualify for section 8, but can’t get the help that they need now.”

She added that when states invest in their residents, it’s easier for them to afford their household expenses such as rent and other bills.