Connecticut Fair Housing Center — Free Foreclosure and Housing Discrimination Help.
When your housing situation reaches a crisis point — a foreclosure notice in the mail, a landlord who refused to rent to you for reasons that felt wrong, a mortgage you can no longer afford — the Connecticut Fair Housing Center may be one of the most useful calls you can make. This is a guide / easy to read summary of what the Connecticut Fair Housing Center offers and how to access their services.
It's a Hartford-based nonprofit civil rights organization, active since 1994, that provides free legal services to Connecticut residents dealing with foreclosure or housing discrimination. A major goal is to help people get the housing assistance they need. The Connecticut Fair Housing Center is at 60 Popieluszko Court, Hartford, CT 06106, or call (860) 247-4400. The main website is https://ctfairhousing.org/.
If you're facing foreclosure
The center serves as a direct resource for Connecticut homeowners who have fallen behind on their mortgage or received a foreclosure notice. You don't need to wait until a court date is set to reach out.
One of the most effective options currently available is the Foreclosure Advice Virtual Meeting — free 15-minute appointments with a center attorney who can walk you through your options and tell you where you stand. These are available to Connecticut residents who own their home or hold an interest in it through inheritance or divorce transfer; they are not available for tenants, second homes, or investment properties. Check the center's website at ctfairhousing.org to see current appointment availability.
In-person Foreclosure Prevention Clinics are also offered periodically in partnership with Homes Saved by Faith. These are typically held on weekday evenings in Hartford or Fairfield County. A center attorney presents on how to prepare for court and what resources exist, followed by brief one-on-one conversations. Call (860) 247-4400 or visit the site for current dates and locations since scheduling changes throughout the year.
For homeowners who want to understand the process on their own terms, the center publishes a free guide called "Representing Yourself in Foreclosure: A Guide for Connecticut Homeowners," available in both English and Spanish. You can download it directly from ctfairhousing.org or call to have a copy mailed to you.
If you need financial assistance — not just legal guidance — the Connecticut Housing Finance Authority runs the Emergency Mortgage Assistance Program (EMAP), which may provide funds to eligible homeowners experiencing a short-term financial hardship. Contact CHFA directly at (877) 894-4111 to find out if you qualify or see https://www.chfa.org/homeowners/emergency-mortgage-assistance-program/.
If you need free legal advice and believe your income may be low enough to qualify, Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut can also provide referrals at 1-800-453-3320. Also see our guide to free legal aid in Connecticut.
If a landlord or seller discriminated against you
Connecticut law makes it illegal to deny housing or treat someone differently in a housing transaction because of race, color, national origin, sex, ancestry, religion, disability, family status, marital status, age, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, legal source of income (which includes Section 8 vouchers), or veteran status.
If you believe any of these protections were violated when you tried to rent or buy a home, the center can investigate your complaint, gather evidence including the use of trained testers, and help you file a formal complaint with the appropriate state or federal agency. These services are provided at no cost.
A word of caution if you're in foreclosure
People facing foreclosure are among the most heavily targeted groups for financial scams. Be very cautious of anyone — including out-of-state attorneys — who contacts you and asks for upfront fees for loan modifications, foreclosure prevention, or so-called "forensic audits" of your loan documents. Legitimate help in Connecticut does not require you to pay before receiving assistance. If you're uncertain whether a company or individual offering foreclosure help is legitimate, you can contact the Connecticut Department of Banking at 1-877-472-8313.
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