WASHINGTON – Congressman Jim Himes (CT-04) joined Norwalk Mayor Richard Moccia on Monday for an open house at the New Neighborhoods, Inc., livable communities in Norwalk. Himes addressed NNI tenants and members of the Greater Norwalk Chamber of Commerce, toured the facilities at 80 Fair Street, and met with local constituents.
Pictures from today’s event can be downloaded here.
The 80 Fair Street complex marks NNI’s first housing development in Norwalk. It is a 56-unit workforce housing property, with 11 supportive units for at-risk and formerly homeless veterans and other at-risk families. The Veterans Administration provides support services for these families.
“As a former employee of an affordable housing non-profit, I believe that we must do all we can to ensure affordable, quality housing for all Americans,” said Himes. “In the last 15 years, we have lost 150,000 units from our stock of public and assisted housing through sale or demolition. We must do more to give Americans the certitude they need that housing will be both affordable and available; NNI is leading the way in ensuring affordable, quality housing for our workforce.”
Himes is a member of the Livable Communities Task Force in Congress. This 26-member task force supports efforts to help make communities more “livable” by providing more transportation choices, promoting equitable and affordable housing, enhancing economic competitiveness, and reinvesting in existing communities so that families will be safer, enjoy greater personal and environmental health, and have greater access to educational and economic opportunities.
“No community can expect to thrive in the 21st century without a diverse supply of affordable housing for its workforce, its sons and daughters, and its elderly,” said Ross Burkhardt, President and CEO of New Neighborhoods, Inc.