Political science honor society hosts discussion on housing crisis

Eastern’s chapter of the Pi Sigma Alpha National Political Science Honor Society hosted a discussion on housing issues on May 7 in the Gelsi-Young Hall Connecticut Room. In collaboration with the Department of Political Science, Philosophy, and Geography, the event brought together honor society members, students, faculty members, Eastern administrators, and officials from the state level.

More than 20 participants attended, including two invited experts from the Connecticut Department of Housing (DOH): Deputy Commissioner Julian Pierce and Sonya Jelks, manager of housing sustainability. 

This event was made possible through a national grant received by Eastern’s chapter of Pi Sigma Alpha. The grant was the result of a highly competitive national process, and the local chapter was honored to receive an allocation for the full requested amount, noted honor society president and political science major Zachary Robinson.

With the state grappling with a housing crisis, attendees were eager to tap into the experts’ knowledge. Conversations touched on various topics, including housing affordability, statewide programs, and advice for first-time homeowners.  

The second part of the discussion focused on the policy landscape. There was no shortage of questions, said Robinson, as affordability issues alone revealed insights into programs like “Time to Own,” Connecticut’s forgivable down payment assistance initiative, and clarified what separates the public from the private sector on housing.

Beyond serving as an educational platform for students, engaging with the DOH created networking pathways for students, with talks of future internships and other opportunities at state agencies. Eastern’s Pi Sigma Alpha chapter expressed gratitude to Pierce and Jelks for joining the roundtable and for making themselves available for follow-ups, detailed questions, and mentorship.